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AMERICAN 

STATE PAPERS, 

CONTAINING 

AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS 

RELATIVE TO 

THE HISTORY, POLITICKS, STATISTICKS, &c, 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



COMMUNICATED 

TO CONGRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. 

i or- 

iOU. 






BOSTON : 
PRINTED BY MUNROE, FRANCIS, & PARKER, 

No. 4, CORNHILL. 

1808. 



-r- ■: — sai 



AMESIGAK 
STATE 
PAPSRS 



h 



%? ? 



COMTEMTS. 



FIRST FART. 

president's Message to the first session of the ninth Congress I 
Report fi-om the Governor and presiding Judge of Michigan, relative to 

that territory. 5 
Documents of Papers, relative to complaints by France, against the St. 

Domingo trade. ^0 

President's Message, relative to the violation of neutral rights. 14 

Mr. Monroe's Letter to Mr. Madison on the subject. 15 

Mr. Gore's Letter to Mr. Madison on the subject. 18 

Remonstrance by Mr. Monroe to the British government. 26 

Letter from Mr. Madison to Mr. Monroe, relative to impressments. 33 
Message from the President, communicating Discoveries made by Capts. 

Lev\as and Clarke, Dr. Sibley, and Mr. Dunbar 39 

Capt. Lewis's Letter 40 

Historical sketcli of the several Indian tribes 42 

Account of Red river, &c. 51 
Observations made in a voyage from St. Catherine's landing on the cast 

of the Mississippi, to the hot springs on the Washita 65 

President's Message to the 2d session of the ninth congress S2 



SECOND PART. 

Report of the Secretary of the Treasuiy, Dec. 5, 1806. 1 

Letter from Capt. Clark to his brother . 6 

Messages and Papers relative to Burr's conspiracy 9 
Account of a voyage up tlie Mississippi river, from St. Louis to its 

source, by Lieut. Pike. 25 
Message from the President, communicating information of the effect 

of gunboats, &c. 52 
President's Proclamation, interdicting British armed vessels from enter- 
ing our ports. 55 
Documents and Letters relative to Spanish encroachments on the Sa- 
bine. , 58 
President's Message to the first session of the tenth congress. 67 
British Decree of Jan. 10, ISOf. 70 
Spanish Decree of Feb. 19, 1807. 71 
Decree of the King of Holland, of Aug. 28, 1807. 73 
Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, Nov. 1807. 74 
British Pi'oclamation for recalling seamen. 79 



THE POLITICAL CABINET. 

Ht^wtta. in usum historiac compkctuntur prlneipum edicts, lenahium decreta, Judiciorum pt^ 
cessus, orationcs publice habits, epistola publicc misisc, et similia, absque narrationii coaSf 
textu, 8ive tilo continuo.— Bacon dc Aug. Sci. 



In order to give a more durable value to our ivork than it has yet 
possessed, we {xrofiose to afifirofiriate the eight pages, which in con* 
sequence of increased patronage we are enabled to add, to the pub' 
lication of interesting American state papers, and generally of aU" 
thenticated documents, having for their objects the history', etatis* 
ticks, iJfc. of our country, to be published as an appendix to the 
Anthology, paged by itself, so thaty if subscribers please^ it may b» 
tound as a separate volu?ne. 



MESSAGES 

OF 

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

eOMMUNICATION TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, AT THE COM- 
MENCF.MENT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NI>rTn COXGRESS, 
DECEMBER 3, 1805.- 

« 
To the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentativts 
of the United States of America. 
A T a moment when the nations of Europe are in commotion and arming againSl 
-^^ each other, when thofe with whom, we have principal intercourfe are engaged 
in the general conteft, and when the countenance of fome of them towards our 
peaceable country, threatens that even that may not be unaffedted by what is pair- 
ing on the general theatre, a meeting of the reprefentatives of the nation, in both 
houfes of congrefs, has become more than ufually defirable. Coming from every 
fedlion of our country, they bring with them the fentiments and the information of 
the whole, and will be enabled to give a direjflion to the publick affairs, which the will 
and the wifdom of the whole will approve and fupport. In taking a view of the. 
ftate of our country, we, in the firft place, notice the late afflicftion of two of oui* 
cities, under' the fatal fever, which in latter times has occafionally viGted our fliores- 
Providence, in his goodnefs, gave it an early termination on this occafion, and lefl- 
ened the number of vidlims which have ufually fallen before it. In the courfe of 
the feveral vifitations by this difeafe, it has appeared to be ftridlly local, incident to 
cities and on the tide waters only, incommunicable in the country, either by per- 
fons under the difeafe, or by goods carried from difeafed places ; that its accef's ia 
with the autumn, and it difappears with the early frofts. Thefc roftridtion?, withia 
narrow limits of time and fpace, give fecurity, even to our maritime cities, during 
three fourths of the year, and v the country always ; although from thefe fa(5ts it 
appears unnecefrary,yet, to fatisfy the fears of foreign nations, and cautious on theif 
part are not to be complained of, in a danger whofe limits are yet unknown to them, 
I have ftridtly enjoined on the officers at the head of the cuftoms to certify with ex- 
a<£t truth, for every velTel failing for a foreign port, the ftate of health refpe(5ling 
this fever which prevails at the place from which fbe fails. Under every motive 
from charadler and duty to certify the truth, I have no doubt they have faithfully- 
executed this injundlion. Much real injury has however been fuftained from a pro- 
peuCty to identify with this endemick, aud t© c*il by the fame nacie, fevers ef ver^ 
Voi,. HI. Appendix. xV 



'^ AMERICAN STATE PAI'eAS'. 

different kinds, which have teen known at all times and in all countries, an(f neves*" 
have been placed among thofe deemed contagious. As we advance in our knowl- 
edge of this difeafe, as fadts develope the fource from which individuals receive it, 
the ftate authorities charged with the care of the publick health, and congrefs with 
that of the general commerce, will become able to regulate with efffedl their refpec- 
tive funtbions in thefe departments. The burthen of quarantines is felt at home as 
wdl as abroad ; their efScacy merits examination. Although the health laws of 
the ftates ihould be found to need no prefent revifal by Congrefs, yet commerce 
claims that their attention be ever awake to them. 

Since our laft meeting, the afpecft of our foreign relations has confiderably chang- 
ed. Our coafts have been infefted, and our harbours watched, by private armed- 
veflels, fome of them without commifTions, fome with illegal commiffions, others, 
with thofe of legal form, but committing piratical adls beyond the authority of 
their commiffions. They have captured in the very entrance of our harbours, a» 
well as on the high feas, not only the veffets of our friends, coming to trade with' 
i»s, but our own alfo. They have carried them ofr under pretence of legal adjudica- 
tioriibut,not daring to approach a court of juftice, they have plundered and funkthem 
by the way, or in obfcure places, where no evidence could arife againft them, mal- 
treated the crews, and abandoned them in boats, in the open fea, or on defert flicres, 
without food or covering, Thefe enormities, appearing to be unreached by any con-- 
trolof their fovereigns, I found it necelTary to equip a force, to cruize within our 
own feas, to arreft all veffels of thefe defcriptions found hovering on our coafts with- 
in the limits of the Gulf Stream, and to bring the offenders in for trial aspirates. 

The fame fyflem of hovering on our coalts and harbours, under colour of feeking 
enemies, has been alfo carried on by publick armed fliips, to the great annoyance- 
and opprefBon of our commerce. New principles too have been interpolated into- 
the law of nations, founded neither in juftice, nor the ufage or acknowledgment of 
jiations. According to thefe, a belligerent takes to itfelf a commerce with its own. 
enemy, which it denies to a neutral, on the ground of its aiding that enemy in the 
war. But reafon revolts at fuch an inconfiftency ; and the neutral, having equal 
right with the belligerent to decide the queftion, the interefts of our conflituents, 
and the duty of maintaining the authority of reafoa, the only umpire between juft 
nations, impofe on us the obligation of providing an efted:ual and determined oppo- 
fition to a doArine fo injurious to the rights of peaceable nations. Indeed the con- 
fidence we ought to have in the juflice of others, fHll countenances the hope, that a 
founder view of thofe rights wiU of itfelf i%luce from every belligerent a more cor-^ 
rfedt obfervance of them. 

With Spain our negociations for a fettlement of differences have not had a fatis-- 
faiJlory ilTue. Spoliations during the former war, for which flie had formally ac- 
knowledged herfelf refponfible, have been refufed to be compenfated but on con- 
ditions afFei^ing other claims in no wife conneiSled with them. Yet the fame prac- 
tices are renewed in the prefent war, and are already of great amount. On th® 
Mobile, our commerce, paflhig through that river, continues to be obftrudVed by ar- 
bitrary duties and vexatious fearches. Propolitions for adjufting amicably the boun- 
daries of Louifiana have not been acceded to. While however the right is unfettled, 
we have avoided changing the flate of things, by taking new pofls, or ftrengthen- 
ing ourfelves in the difputed territories, in the hope that the other power would not 
by a contrary condudt, oblige us to meet their example, and, endanger conflicls of 
authority, the ifTue of which may not be cafily controlled. ]3ut in this hope we 
have now reafon to lefTen our confidence, hiroads have been recently made into 
the territories of Orleans and the Milfiflippl. Our citizens have been feized and 
their property plundered in the very parts of the. former which had been adtually 
delivered up by Spain : and this by tlie regular officers and foldiers of that govern- 
ment. I have, therefore, found it iiecelTary at length to give orders to our troops on 
that frontier, to be in readinefs to protect our citizens, and to repel by arms any 
ijmilar aggrefTions in future. Other details neceflary for your full information of 
the flate of things between this country and that, lliall be the iul^jcdl of another 
communication. 

In reviewing thefe injuries from fome of the belligerent powers, the moderation, 
J^t lirmnefs, and the wifdom of the legiflature will all be called iuto uctiuu. We 



IflLMEMCAN STATE PAPERS. V 

•ttght ftin to hope, that time and a more correA eftimate of Intereft, as wdl as of 

charadler, will produce the juftice we are bound to expeift. 

But fliould any nation deceive itfelf by falfe calculations, and difappoint that ei- 
pecftation, we mud join in the unprofitable conteft, of trying which party can do the 
other the mofl: harm. Some of thefe injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable rem- 
edy. Where that is competent, it is always the moft defirable. But fome of them 
are of a nature to be met by force only, and all of them may lead to it. I cannot 
therefore but recommend fuch preparations as circumftances call for. The iirft ob- 
jedl is to place our fea-port towns out of the danger of infult. Meafures have been 
already taken for furnifliing tWm with heavy cannon, for the fervice of fuch land 
batteries, as may make a part of their defence againft armed veflels approaching 
them, hi aid of thefe, it is defirable we fhould have a competent number of gun- 
boats: and the number, to be competent, mull be confiderable. If immediately be- 
,^un,they maybe in readinefs for fervice at the opening of the next feafon. Wheth- 
er it >vill be neceflary to augment our land forces, will be decided by occurrences 
probably in the courfeof your felTion. In the mean time, you will coalider, whether 
it would not be expedient, for a ftate of peace as well as of war, fo to organize or 
clafs the militia as would enable us, on a fudden emergency, to c.ill for the fervices 
of the younger portions, unincumbered with the oid and thofe having families. 
Upwards of three hundred thoufand able bodied men, between the ages of eighteeu 
•and twenty-fix ;yiar6, .which the lad cenfus fliews we may now count within our 
limits, will furnilh a .competent number for offence or, defence, m any ])oint where 
•they mav be wanted, and will give time for raifing regular forces, after the neceflity 
of them fliall become certain : and the reducing to the early period of life all its ac- 
tive fervice, cannot but be defirable to our younger citizens of the prefent, as well 
as future times ; inafmuch as it engages to them, in more advanced age, a quiet and 
;Undi(lurbed repofe in the bofom of their families. I cannot then hut earneftly re- 
commend to your early confideration, the expediency of fo modifying our militia 
fyftem, as, by a feparation of the more aAive part from that which is lefs fo, w^ 
may draw from it, when neceflary, an efficient corps, fit for real and a<9:ive fervice, 
and to be called to it in regular rotation. 

Confiderable provifion has been made under former authoritiesfrom Gongrefs, of 
materials for the conflrudlion of fliipsofwar of 74 guns--thefe material* are op 
4iand, fubjecSt to the further will of the Icglflature. 

An immediate prohibition of the exportation of arips aad ainmunitioa is alfo fujj- 
.aaitted to your determination. 

Turning from thefe unpleafant views of Tiolence and vwong, I congratulate yoa 
«n the liberation of our fellow citizens, who were flranded on tlie coafls of Tripoli, 
and made prifoners of war. In a government bottomed on the will of all, the life 
and liberty of every individual citizen becomes interefting to all. In the treaty 
therefore which has concluded our warfare with that ftate, an article for the ranfoni 
•of our citizens has been agreed tc. An operation by land by a fmall band of our 
countrymen, and others engaged for -the occafion, in conjundlion v/ith the troops of 
the ex-bafliaw of that country, gallantly <:ondudted by opr Ute conful Eaton, and 
their fuccefsful enterprir.e on the city of JDerne, contributed doubtlefs to the im- 
preffion which produced peace : and tj'e conclufion of this prevented opportunities, 
■of which the officers and men of oi;r fquadron defiined for Tripoli would have a- 
vailed themfclves to emulate the atils of v?Jour exhibited by their brethren in the 
attack of the lafl year. Refiediing with high fatisfadiion on the diftinguiflied brave- 
ly, difplayed whenever occafions permitted in the late Mediterranean fervice, 1 think 
it would be an ufeful encouragement, as well as a juft reward, to make an opening 
-for fi me prefent -promotion, by eiilarging our peace efiabliilunent of captains and 
lieutenants. 

With Tunis fome mifunderflandings have arifen not yet fufl'iclently explained ; 
but friendly difcuffions with their ambaffador, recently arrived, and a mutual difpo- 
iltion to do v/hatever is jufi; and reafonablc cannot fail of diffipating thefe. So that 
we may confider our peact, on that coall generally, to be on as found a footing as it 
:ijas been at any preceding time- Still it will not be expedient to withdraw immedi- 
ately the whole of our force from that fea. 

The law providing for a naval peace eftabliniment fixes the number of frigates, 
>^tiitb[ fliall be kept m conftant fi;rvice in time of pcvice, and prefcribes tliat tliojr 



'ti iMERlCAN state: PAPERS^ 

%aM be flianaed by not more than two-thirds of their compliment of feamen and or# 
dinary feamen. Whether a frigate may be trufted td two-thirds only of her proper 
compliment of men, mull dapend on the nature of the fervice on which flie is order- 
ed ; that may fometimes for her fafety, as well as to enfure her objeiSt, require her 
fuUeft compliment. In adverting to this fubjedt, congrefs will perhaps confider, 
Whether the beft limitation on the executive difcretion in this cafe would not be, by 
the number of feamen which may be employed in the whole fervice, rather than by 
the number of velTels. Occafions oftener arife for the employment of fmall than of 
large veffels, and it would leflen rifk as well as expenfe to be authorized to employ 
jhem of preference; the limitation fuggefted by the number of feamen would admit 
a felecftion of veffels beft adapted to the fervice. 

Our Indian neighbours are advancing, many of them with fpirit, and others be- 
l;inning to engage, in the purfuits of agriculture and houfehold manufaiSture. They 
•«re becoming fenlible that the earth yields fubllftence with lefs labour and more cer- 
tainty than the foreft, and find it their intereft from time to time to difpofe of parts 
©f their furplus and wafle lands for the means of improving thofe they occupy, and 
of fubfifting their families while they are preparing their farms. Since your lafl: 
feffion the northern tribes have fold to us the lands between the Conne<Sicut referve 
«ind the former Indian boundary ; and thofe on the Ohio, from the fame boundary to 
the Rapids and for a confiderabie depth inland. The Chickafaws and Cherokee* 
■Jiave fold us the country between, and adjacent to, the two diftridls of Tenneffee^ 
and the Creeks the reiidue of their lands in the fork of Ocmulgee, up to the Ul- 
cofauhatche. The three former purchafes are important, inafmuch as they con- 
solidate disjoined parts of our fettled country, and render their inte^courfe ffccyj-e j 
and the fecond particularly fo, as, with the fmall point on the river, which we ex- 
pedl is by this time ceded by the Piankefliaws, it completes our poffellion of the 
^vhole af both banks of the Ohio, from its fource to near its mouth, and the navi- 
;gation of that river is thereby rendered forever fafe to our citizens fettled and fet- 
tling on it8 extenfive waters. The purchafe from the Creeks too has been for fome 
^time peculiarly interefting to the ftate of Georgia. 

The feveral treaties which have been mentioned will be fubmitted to both houfes 
cf congrefs for the exercife of their refpeifiive fundlions. 

Deputations now on their way to the feat of government, from various nation* 
«of Indians, inhabiting the Miffouri and other parts beyond the Mifliffippi, come 
«harged with affurances of their fatisfadiion with the new relations in which they 
sare placed with us, of their difpofitions to cultivate our peace and friendfliip, and 
«heir defire to enter into commercial intercourfe with us. 

A ftate of our progrefs in exploring the principal rivers of that country, and of 
the information refpedling them hitherto obtained, will be communicated as foon 
as we fhall receive fome further relation, which we have reafon fliortly to expe<51:. 

The receipts at the treafury, during the year ending on the 30th day of Septem- 
fcer laft, have exceeded the fum of thirteen millions of dollars, which, with not 
quite five millions in the treafury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, after 
meeting other demands, to pay nearly two millions of the debt contraiSted under 
the Britifli treaty and convention, upwards of four millions of principal of the pub- 
lick debt,and four millions of intereft. Thefe payments, with tliofe which had been 
made in three years and half preceding, have extinguiflied of the funded debt 
nearly eighteen millions of principal. ' ' 

Congrefs, by their adl of November 10, 1803, authorifed us to borrow 1,750,000 
dollars towards meeting the claims of our citizens, afliimed by the convention with 
I'rance. 'We have not however made ufe of this authority : becaufe the fum of four 
jnillions and an half, which remained in the treafury on the fame SOth day of Sep- 
tember laft, with the receipts which we may calculate on for the enfuing year, be- 
£des paying the annual fum of eight millions of dollars, appropriated to the funded 
debt, and meeting all the current demands which may be expedled, will enable us 
to pay the whole fum of three millions feven hundred and fifty thoufand dollars; 
aflumed by the French convention , and ftill leave us a furplus of nearly a million of 
dellars at our free difpofal. Should you concur in the provifions of arms and armed 
veffels recommended by the circumftances of the times, this furplus will furnifla the 
paeans of doing fo. 

On this firft occafion of addreffin^ congrefs, fince, by the choice of my confUtu^ 



21 



JUIERICAN STATt PAPERS* a 

.tati, i have enf ercd on a fecond term of adminiftration, I embrace the opportunity 
\o give this publick aflurance that I will exert my beft endeavours to adminifter faith- 
fully the executive department, and will zealoufly co-operate with you in every 
meafure which may tend to fecure the liberty, property, and perfonal fafety of oui" 
fellow citizens, and to confolidate the republican forms and principles of our gov- 
ernment. 

In the course of your feflion, you fliall receive all the aid which I can give for the 
difpatch of the publick bufinefs, and all the information neceflary for your delibera^ 
tions, of which theinterefts of our own country and the confidence repofed in us by 
©thers, will admit a communication. T" '• Jpf PERSON. 

Dec. S, 1805. 



A REPbRT FROM THE GOVERNOUR, AND PRESIDING JUDGE OF THB 
TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN, RELATIVE TO THE STATE OF THAT 
TERRITORY. TRANSMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT, DEC. 23, 1805. 

9o tbe Senate and Hou/e of Repre/entntives 
of the United States of America. 

THE governour and prefiding judge of the territory of Michigan have 
made a report to me of the ftate of that territory, fcveral matters in which 
being within the reach of the legiflative authority only, I lay the report 
before congrefs. " " Th : JEFFERSON. 

December 23, 1805. 

(COPY.) 

Detroit, Oaoher 10, 1805. 

THE governour of the territory of Michigan and the prefiding judge 
thereof, in compliance with the wifhes of the government and the people of 
the territory, have the honour to make the following report relative to the 
afiFairs of the territoiy. 

By the adl of the congrefs of the Unitejd States c/lablifhing the territory, 
the government thereof was to commence from and after the thirtieth day 
of June, one thoufand eight hundred five. The prefiding judge arrived at 
Detroit, the feat of the government, on Saturday the 29th day of June, and 
the governour on Monday the firft day of July. The afibciate judge, who 
was previoufly a refident of the territory, was already there. On Tuefday 
the 2d July, the governour, in purfuatice of the ordinance of congrefs, ad- 
miniftered to the feveral officers their refpedlive oaths of office, and on the 
fame day the operations of the government commenced. 

It was the unfortunate fate of the new government, to commence its oper- 
ations in a fcene of the deepeft publick and private calamity. By the confla- 
gration of Detroit, which took place on the morning of the 11th of June, all 
the buildings of that place, both publick and private, were entirely confum- 
ed ; and the mod valuable part of the perfonal property of the inhabitants, 
was loft. On the arrival of the new government, a part of the people were 
found encamped on the publick grounds, in the vicinity of the tov/n, and the 
remainder were difperfed through the neighbouring fettlements of the coun- 
try ; both on the Britilh and the American fide of the boundary. 

The place which bore the appellation of the town of Detroit, was a fpot of 
about two acres of ground, completely covered with buildings, and combuf- 
tible materials, the narrow intervals of fourteen or fifteen feet, ufed as ftreeta 
nr lanes, only excepted ; and the whole was environed with a very ftrong and 
fpcure defence of tall and folid picquets. The circumjacent ground, th^ 
bank of the river alone excepted, was a wide common : and though affer- 
tions are made refpedting the exiftence, among the records of Quebec, of a 
charter from the king of France, confirming this common as an appurtenance 
to the town, it was either the property of the United States, or at leaft fuch 
ik individual claims did not pretend to ^over. The foljy of attempting to 



€ AMERiCAJT STATE rAPEltS. 

rebuild the town in the original mode was obvious to every mmd ; yet there 
exifted no authority, either in the country, or in the officers of the new gov- 
ernment, to difpofe of the adjacent ground. Hence had already arifen a ftatc 
of diflention which urgently required the interpofition of fome authority to 
quiet. Some of the inhabitants, deftitutc of fhelter, and hopelefs of any 
prompt arrangements of government, had reoccupied their former ground, 
and a few buildings had already been ereded in the raidft of the old ruins. 
Another portion of the inhabitants had determined to take poflcffion of the 
adjacent publick ground, and to throw themfelves on the liberality of the 
government of the United States, either to make them a donation of the 
ground as a compenfation for their fufferings, or to accept of a very moderate 
price for it. If they eould have made any arrangement of the various pre- 
tenfions of individuals, or could have agreed on any plan of a town, they 
would foon have begun to build. But the want of a civil authority to decide 
interfering dlaims, ©r to compel the refradory to fubmit to the wiihcs of a 
majority, had yet prevented them from carrying any particular meafu re into 
execution. On the morning of Monday the firft day of July, the inhabitants 
had aflembled, for the purpofe of refolving on fome definitive mode of proce- 
jdure. The judges prevailed on them to defer their intentions for a (hort 
time, giving them aflurances that the governour of the territory would fhortly 
arrive, and that every arrangement, in the power of their domeftick govern- 
ment, would be made for their relief. On thefe reprefentations they confent- 
cd to defer their meafures for one fortnight. In the evening of the fame day 
the governour arrived ; It was his firft meafure to prevent any encroachments 
from being made on the publick land. The ^tuation of the diftrefled inhab- 
itants then occupied the attention of the members of the government for 
^wo or three days. The refult of thefe difcuffions was, to proceed to lay out 
a new town, embracing the whole of the old town, and the publick lands ad- 
jacent ; to fcate to the people that nothing in the nature of a title could be 
given, under any authorities then poflefled by the government ; and that they 
could not be juftified in holding out any charitable donations whatever, as a 
compenfation for their fufferings ; but that every perfonal exertion would be 
jifed to obtain a confirmation of the arrangements about to be made, and to 
obtain the liberal attention of the government of the United States to their 
diftreiT^s. 

A town was accordingly furyeyed and laid out, and the want of authority 
to impart any regular title, without the fubfequent fandtion of congrefs, being 
tirft imprefled, and clearly underftood, the lots were expofcd to fale under that 
refervation. Where the purchafer of a lot was a proprietor in the old town, 
he was at liberty to extinguifh his former property in his new acquifition, foot 
for foot, and was expefted to pay .only for th^ furplus, at the rate exprefled 
in his bid. A confiderable part of the inhabitants were only tenants in the 
old town, there being no means of acquiring any new titles. The fale of 
/courfe could not be confined merely to former proprietors but as far as pofli- 
ble, was confined to former iiihabitafits. ' After the fale of a confiderable part, 
by audiion^ the remainder was difpofed of by private contrad:, deducing 
from the previous fales the bafis of the terms. As foon as the necefiities of 
the immediate inhabitants were accommodated, the fales were entirely Hop- 
ped until the pkafure of government could bcAJonfulted. As no title could 
he made, or was pretended to be made, no payments were required, or any 
monies permitted to be received until the expiration of one year, to afford 
time for congrefs to interpofe. The remaining part was ftipuiated to be paid 
in four fucceflive annual inftalments. The highefc uim refulting from the bids 
was feven cents, for a fquare foot, and the whole averaged at leafl four cents, 
Jn this way the inhabitants were fully fatisfied to commence their buildings, 
and the interfering pretenfions of all individuals were eventually reconciled. 
The 'validity of any of the titles was not taken into view. The poffijfion un- 
4w the titles, fuch as they were, was alone regarded} and the v^ilidity of title 



AMERICAN STATft fAPKRSf. f 

?eft to «\vait the ifltie of fuch meafiires a« congrcfs might acfopt, reJatrfet* 
landed titles in the territory of Michigan, 5-^ wtra//)'. It therefore now remain* 
for the congrcfs of the United States either to rcfufe a fan<5lion of the arrange- 
ment made, or by imparting a regular authority to make it, or in fome other 
mode in their wifdom deemed proper, to relieve the inhabitants from one of 
the mod: immediate diftrefies, occafioned by the calamitous conflagration. 

Strongly imprcfled with a fcnfe of the tv'orth of the people, and deeply 
commifcrating their fuft'erings, of a great part of which they were eye witntff- 
«s, the officers of their local government cannot refrain from adding their 
vaimcft degree of recommendation to forward the liberality the congrcfs of 
the United States will unqueftionably be inchned to exercife towards them j 
and the difpofition which will doubtlefs prevail towards attaching their affec- 
tions, promoting their interefts, and relieving their diftrefs. Whether a dona- 
tion of the acquifitions w hich have been (tated, or of lands more remote, or 
the application of the proceeds to publick purpofes within the country, will 
be moft advifable, the underfigned pretend not to fay ; but whatever relief 
may be extended to them on the part of the general government, they hefi-. 
tatc not to aflert, will be of the mofl; eflential utility to them, and rendered ta 
objedts of real merit. 

The organization of the coorts of juftiee next demanded confideration. A 
judicial fyftem was eftablifhed on principles of convenience, economy, and fim- 
plicity. Courts were held under it, and all the exifting bufinefs fettled. Everf 
fubjedt requiring to be Icgiflated upon was aifted on, as far as the government 
was competent to act. At the clofeof the other arrangements, the militia of 
the territory were completely organized and brought into the field. 

The various adts, both of a legiflative and executive defcription, will appear 
at large in the femiannual report of them, which the laws of the United States 
require, and it will therefore be unneceflary to exhibit the details of them. 

The grand juries conftantly prefented addreffesto the coorts on the fubje<ft 
©f their land titles. The feveral companies of militia, eleded delegates to a 
general meeting, which, among other objedts, addrefTed the government on 
the fubjcdt of their titles ; a-.ul earneftly requeftcd the perfonal attendance of 
the governour and one of the judges, during apart of the feflion of con- 
grcfs. Indeed the confufed fituation of land titles, during the nine or ten 
years the United States have had pofleffion of the country, has been fuch, 
and is fo increafing by lapfe of lime, as now loudly to call for a definitive 
adjuftment. 

It is now nearly a century' and a half fince the firft fettlements were made 
in this country, under the French government, and in the reign of Louis the 
fourteenth, wi»ofe name it then bore, in common with what has fince exclu- 
Cvely been termed Louifiana. In 1673, an officer, commiffioncd by the 
French government, explored the waters of the weft ; taking his departure 
from lake Michigan, he penetrated to the Ouifconfin river, and afterwards to 
the Miffiffippi, and returned through the Illinois country, after having failed 
down the Mifiiffippi within one degree of latitude of the fouthern boundsry 
of the United States, previous to the late treaty of Paris, of April, 1803, and 
that anteriour to the difcovery of the mouth of the Miffiffippi by La Salle. 
Prior to this era the fettlements of the ftraight had commenced, and Detroit 
claims an antiquity of fifteen years fuperiour to the city of Philadelphia. The 
few titles granted by the government of France were of three French acres 
in front, on the banks of the river, by forty in depth, fubjeft to the feudal and 
feignoral conditions, which ufually accompaincd titles in France. The an- 
cient French code called la coutume de Paris was the eftablifticd law of the 
country ; and the rights of land were made ftridtly conformable to it. All 
thefe grants, however, required the grantee, in a limited ptriod', to obtain a 
confirmation from the king ; and, with the exception of a very few, this con- 
firmation has never been made. On the conqueft ' f the French pofilflions 
by Great-Britain, in the war which terminated by the treaty of Paris in the 
year 176J, as well in original articles of capitulation in Lisa and in uso, a« 



S AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

in the fiibfcqnent treaty itfelf, the property of the inhabitants of the country i« 
confined to them. The expreflion in the original is, leurs biens,nobles et ignobleSi 
meubles et tmmeubles. It is therefore conceived to comprehend thefe lands. 
On the acquifition by the United States of America of that portion of Cana- 
da which is now comprehended within the limits of the territory of Michigan, 
by the definitive treaty of peace, at Paris, in 1783, the ftibjedts of his Britan* 
nick majefty are fecured from lofs, or damage in perfon, liberty, or property, 
and in the treaty of London, negociatcd between Mr. Jay and lord Grenville, 
in November, 1794, they are (till more particularly confirmed in their pro- 
perty of every kind, land, houfes, or effedts. However defediive, therefore, 
the clafs of original proprietors may be, with refpedt to the evidence of title 
according to the American forms, it is conceived their rights are extremely 
itrong. The Britilh government granted few titles, and thefe were generally 
mere permiflions of military officers to ufe or occupy certain pieces of land, 
often unaccompanied with any written evidences, but a{ruming,from long con^ 
tinned poffeffion, an appearance of right. Under the American governmeut 
BO titles of any kind have been granted. 

From this ftate of things fome confequences have refulted, which are not 
indeed difficult to forefee, but which it is difficult to remedy. One of thefe 
confequences, and perhaps not the Icaft important, is the cfted: it has had on 
the deftiny and moral charader of the progeny of the original colonifts. 
When it is remembered, that the troops of Louis the fourteenth, came with- 
out women, the defcription of perfons conftituting the fecond generation will 
rot be difficult to conceive. When it is confidered at the fame time, that 
deftitute of titles to land, they were precluded from the means of acquiring 
them, it will be obvious that an entrance into the favage focieties, or at moft 
employments in the commerce carried on with them, were their only refources. 
While, theiefore, the American colonizations of the fame, and of fubfequent 
date, have grown into regular, agricultural, and opulent ftates, thefe countries 
have been deftined to anarchy, to ignorance, to poverty. The emigrant, 
Tvhom curiofity, or cnterprife, at any time brought into the country, was 
cither attradted to the Britifli fide of it, or difappearcd in fome mode lefs eafy 
to account for. Acceffion, by foreign population, and by natural increafe, 
being thus, at once cut off, the fate of this fine region has necefTarily been that 
infignificance which ftill belongs to it. The Britiib government, in recent pe- 
riods, have confirmed original proprietors, made a donation of a quantity equal 
to the original grant, termed a continuation ; and have granted lands to fettlers 
\vithout any other price than common fees of office attending the acquifition 
of the grant. Such, however, is the ineftimable value of liberty to man, that 
notwithftanding thefe, and, if poffible, greater inducements to the fettlers, the 
underfigned venture to predict a marked fuperiority to the American fide, even 
at the prices at prefent required by the American government, or a flight va- 
liation of them, if the old claims are at once adjufted, and the country laid 
©pen to the acquifition of new title. 

From the ftate of the country which has been reprefented, another confe- 
•juence has refnltcd. Encroachments, in fome inftanccs, grafted on oiiginal 
title, and in others without a femblance of title, have been made on lands 
which are or ought to be, the property of the United States. Individuah 
have prwceeded to extinguifh the native right, contrary to the regulations of 
all the governments ; and in fome inftances extenfive fettlements have been 
made on titles thus acquired. What arrangements the United States will 
make on this head it belongs not to us to anticipate ; we fliall only recom- 
mend a liberal and merciful difpofition to the people of this country; of 
whom it may be fafely aflerted they are Icfs to be charged with depravity of 
eharader, than their governments have been with cruel negledt and indiffer- 
ence. 

The claims of the pi-efent inhabitants require to be confidered under one 
more afped, novel iudced, but not the kfs founded in truth. When the Amei- 



AJlEkiCAN STATE PAPERS. 9 

Hcan comes into cdntaA with the aborignal, if he is not confidered as aii 
enemy, he is at leaft regarded as a charader with whom they are to ftruggle, 
andjif in no other, certainly in a pecuniary view. But the Canadian, allied by- 
blood, by long cftablifhed intercourfe, by a countlefs reciprocity of fervices, 
their native claims having long, as to time, been extinguifhed,and their honout* 
and good faith having been repeatedly pledged for his protedion, is uniformly- 
regarded as their brother, and with him they are difpofed to make a commoii 
Caufe. Hcnc-j J ujlice, and Ii!)eral Jujiice, to the Canadian inhabitant is an 
important point of policy in the cjndud: of the American govei'nment towards 
the aboriginal inhabitants. 

The extent of the Canadian extinguifhment of Indian title, though in itfelf 
indefinite, appears firft to have received limits in the treaty of fort Mac Intofli, 
in 1785. We there firft find a written derelidion of Indian claim for a 
breadth of fix miles from La Riviere aux Railins, now called Rofine, on lake 
trie, to the lafc St. Clair. In the fubfequent treaty of fort Harmar in 1789, 
the fame dcrcli(^tion is confirmed. In the ulterior treaty of Greenvilkj in 1795, 
the confirmation is repeated, and additions made. 

The treaty with Great Britain, of 1783, and the fubfequent one of 1794, 
tvere made for the acComplilhment of great national objects, having very lit- 
tle connection with Canadian and Indian cJaims* The treaties of fort 
Mac Intofh, fort Harmar, and of Greenville, were all formed on other 
far more important points ; and the quantity of extinguifhed Indian ti- 
tle in Michigan recognized by them is lefs to be confidered as an a'-qut/ition 
of 7iew title, than a definition of the old. The expenfe of thefe nego- 
ciations therefore can fcarcely be faid, in any fenfe, to attach to this country ; 
and pefhaps it may be truly faid that all the Indian title at prefent extinguifh- 
ed within the territory of Michigan has not colt the United States a fingle 
dollar ; but is entirely a recognition of a previous, but indefinite title, extin- 
guifhed by the Canadians. Hence a queftion will arife, whether it is more 
than barely jujlice to the inhabitants to allow them the whole of this part, or* 
otherwife to permit the proceeds of it to be applied to their benefit,in the edu- 
cation of their youth, in the erection of publick buildings, fuch as Court houf':3 
and jails, which the late conflagration has entirely deprived them of, and ia 
laying out roads, and other improvements in their country. Next to the ad- 
juftment of the old titles comes the acquifition of new. It is believed that at 
this period, and in a particular mode, a very large portion of Indian title may- 
be fhortly extinguiihed ; but as this part of the fubjed may hereafter be 
deemed confidential, it is made the fubjciS of a diftindt report. 

On an occafion like the prefent it may not be unadvifable to rerife fome of 
the regulations relative to the territory. 

On all the fubjedts requiring legiflation the prefent government zSi with 
difficulty, and on many cannot adl at all. All laws will be found to operate 
On particular />/flcf J, times, andiperfons i and in no ftate, which enters into the 
compofition of the American union; will an abftradt code of principles be dil- 
covered free from a connexion, and that a very c'lofe one, with the places, 
times, a.ndper/ons affected by them. Hence the itv'iiX adoption of any code, or 
even of any one law,becomes impoffiblc. To make it applicable it muft be adap- 
ted to the geography of the country, to its temporary circumftances and exi- 
gencies, and to the particular character of the perfons over whom it is to ope- 
rate. Hitherto it has been rehgioufly the objed to follow what has beea 
deemed the fubftance of the law, whatever modifications the form of it was 
obliged to undergo. But different minds will not always correfpond in fenti- 
ment on what \%fiibjiance, and what hfonn ; and in all the litigations which 
arife under laws, thofe affcfting the validity of the law itfelf are the mofl intri- 
cate and difficult. Hence, in a country whofe adminiftration ought to be 
marked with fimplicity, intricacy, procraftination, and uncertainty in affairs, 
refult. To adopt laws from all the original ttates, the laws of all the original 

Vol. Iir. Appendix. £ 



jO AMKKICAN STAIJS TAPKHS, 

ftatesoujjht to be fuiniilied ; and waving the difficulty and expenfc ofpi^ocw^ 
ing'them, what body of men, under the pieirure of immediate bufinefs, can ac-- 
quire a complete acquaintance with them ? Tlie poirtffion of all the codes, if 
it were poflible, and a complete aqaaintance with their contents, would (till 
prove an abortive cure ; for, in many very limple cafes, aftritft precedent will 
be fcarched for in vain. Is the objecl to eftabiilh a ferry, to regulate the affairs 
of any diftricft, to fereft a court houfe, or to inftitute a fchool, however urgent 
the call, however obvious the means, it mult often be abandoned for want of 
a precedent that will apply ; and often when attempted, may be defeated, 
from the want of a ftri^Tt correfpondence between the law m^de and the pre- 
cedent from which it profeiTes to be adopted ? The real fecurity for the pre- 
valence of republican principles reils not in a proviilon of this awkward kind ; 
for even in the codes of the ftates the difciple of ariftocracy may fometimes 
Snd a weapon. It refts in the general probability that the adminiftrations of 
this defcription will be conformable to the general adminiftration. It refts in 
the parental control of congrefs. Experience is the bed telt of the propriety or 
impropriety of a Ltv, and if a law be made which gives difiatisfaction, the na- 
tuial rcfort is to the authority firlt making for its corre>ition, and when, from 
defe^5t of power or of inclination, the evil is found irremediable by them, to- 
fuperiour authority. 

The requiring a pofieflion of certain cjuantities of land in various officers is 
rot only hnpradicable in the prellnt infbaiice ; but the policy on which the 
provilion may have originally been grounded has ceafed to exift. 

The fouthern boundary of the territory is indefinite. Though in the pre- 
fent maps of the X/nited States, aline of latitude through the Ibuthcrn bend 
f»f lake Michigan appears to ftrike lake Erie near the mouth of the JMiami, yet 
in the maps of Arrowfmith and M'Keniie, fuch a line of latitude would not 
ftrike lake Erie, but pafs entirely fouth of it. The anxiety of the foutherrj' 
fcttlers of the territory is great, not to be attrched to the ftate of Ohio, which 
would be incommodious to them, but to Michigan, which is fo much more 
convenient. The wcftcrn end of lake Erie even from Sandulky would feel 
this convenience. 

The cafe oftheWiandot Indians defcrves the confideration of govern- 
ment. They live in two towns, Maguaga and Brown''s town, within the limits 
of the American title. To the treaty of fort Harmar a claufe was annexed 
ftipulating that they might remain unmolcfled. In- the treaty of Greenville' 
this provifion is omitted. They conftantly aflfert, and there are not wanting 
reputable citizens who join them- in the aflertion, that they were folemnly 
promifed by general Wayne a continuance of the indulgence. It may there- 
fore be worthy of ierious conllderation, whether it may not be adviiable in the 
adjuftment of titles to recognife their poffefiions, and invsft them with ths 
charadter of citizens. 

(Signed) WILLIAM HULL, Gowrnour of the Territory of 

. Michigan. 

(S}gn?d) A. B. WOODWARD, Prefiding Judge of do. 



BOCLIMKXTS A?fD PAPKR3 RELATIVE TO COMPLAINTS BY THE 
GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, AGAINST THE COMMERCE CARRIED 
ON EY AMERICAN CITIZENS IKF THE FRENCH ISLAND OF ST. DO' 
MINGO. 

T-0 the Senate of the United Stales. 
IN compliance with the requeft of the fenate, exprefled in their refolution 
•f Dec. 27, 1 now lay before them fuch docunusnts and.papers (there being 



AMF.KirAV STATK PAPKKS. H 

no Other informatmn rn ttiy pofllffion) as relate to complaints by the govern- 
ment of France, againft the commerce carrittl on by the citizens ©f the Uni-» 
«d Slates to the French iflaiid of St. Domingo. 

yofjuarj 10/.6, IHOG. Th. JEFFERSON. 



From General TuRR^AU to the Secretary of State. 

Oaoier U, \?,0S. 

THE undeffigneJ minifter plenipotentiary of his impeiial and royal majefty, 
to his excellency the prelkieHt of the United States of Americii, has teftified,in 
his converfation with the ftcretary of ftate, his juft difcontent with the com- 
mergia! relations, which many citizens of different dates of the imion main- 
tain with the rebels of every colour, who have momentarily withdrawn the 
colony of St. Domingo from the legal authority. 

The principles injuriouJly affefted by fnch a comttvcrce, or rather by fuch a 
lyftem of robbery (brigandage) are fo evident, fo generally acknowledged, 
and adopted not only by all nations, who have a colonial fyftem to defend, but 
even by thofe who have none : and moreover even by every wife people to 
whatfoever political aggregation they may belong ; that the ftatefman, if he 
has not loft every idea of juftice,of humanity,and of publick law, can no more 
conteft their wifdom, than their exiflence. And certainly the underiigned, in 
finding himfelf called by his duty, as well as by his inclination, in the bofom of 
africndly people, and near the refpedable chief who direfls its government ; 
certainly the underiigned ought not to have expected that his firft political 
relations would have for their object a complaint fo ferious, an infradlion fo 
manifeft of law, the moft facrcd, and the belt obferved by every nation under 
the dominion of civilization. 

But it was not enough for fbme citizens of the United Slates to convey 
munitions of every kind to the rebels of St. Domingo, to that race of African 
IJaves, the reproach, and the reftjfe of nature ; it was moreover necefTary to 
infure the fuccefs of this ignoble and criminal traffickby the ufe of force. The 
vefTels deftined to protedt it are conftrufled, loaded, armed, in all the ports of 
the union, under the eyes of the American people, of its particular authority, 
and of the federal government itfelf ; and this government which has taken 
for the bafis of its political career the molt fcrupulous equity, and the moft 
impartial neutrality, does not forbid it- 

Without doubt, and notvvithftanding the profound confideration with 
which the minifter plenipotentiary of the French empire is penetrated for the 
government of the union ; he might enlarge ft ill farther upon the reflexions 
fuggcfted by fuch a ftate of things, a circumftance fo important, fo unexpec- 
ted. But it would be equally as affliding for him to dweJl upon it, to 
itate its confequences, as it would be for the government to hear them. 

The fecretary of ftate, who pcrfedtly knows th^ juftice of the principles, and 
the legitimacy of the rights referred to in this note, will be of opinion that 
neither are fufceptible of difcufficn ; becaufe a principle univerfally affented 
to, a right generally eftabliflied, is never difcufled, or at leaft is difcuffed in 
vain. The only way open for the redrefs of thefe complaints is to put an 
end to the tolerance which produces them, and which daily aggravates thefe 
confequences. 

Moreover this note, founded upon fads not lefs evident than the principles 
which they infradt, does not permit the underfigned to doubt that the govern- 
ment of the U. States will take the moft prompt, as well as the moft efFe<Sual 
prohibitory meafures, in order to put an end to its caufe ; and he feizes with 
«agernefs this occafion of renewing to ihe fecretary of ftatti the affurance of 
iiis high confideration. (Signed) TURREAU. 

faithfully tranflated. 

J. WA9NER, Chief CJerk, Department State<. 



12 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

General TurreAU, Minljler Plenipotentiary of his Imperial and Royal Ma- 
jejiy, to Mr. Madison, Secretary of State. 

Wajhington, 2d Jan. 1806. 

Sir — Formal orders of my government oblige me to infift upon the contents 
of my official note, of the 14th of October, relative to the commerce, which 
foine inhabitantsof the United States maintain with the rebels of St. Domingo* 

Not receiving any anfwer to that note, I had room to hope, that the go- 
vernment of tlie union would take prompt and efFecftual meafures to put an 
end to the caufes which produced it ; but your filence towards me, clpccial- 
ly in relation to St. Domingo, and that of your government towards congrefs, 
impofes upon me the duty of recalling to your lecoUedlion the faid official 
note, and of renewing to you my complaints upon the tolerance given to an 
abufe, as fiiocldng, as contrary to the law of nations, as it is to the treaty of 
peace and fricndfhip exifting between France and the United States. 

I will not return, fir, to the different circumftances which have attended the 
commerce with the revolted part of St. Domingo, to the fcandalous publicity 
given to its fhameful fuccefs ; to the rewards and encomiums proftituted upon 
the crews of armed veflels, whofe deftination is to proteft the voyages, to 
carry munitions of every kipd to the rebels, and thus to nourifli rebellion and 
robbery. 

You ought npt to be furprifed, fir, that I call anew the attention of the 
American government to this fubjeft. — His excellency Mr. Talleyrand ha? 
already teftified his difcontent to Gen. Armftrong, your minifter plenipoten- 
tiary at Paris ; and you will be of opinion, that it is at length time to purfuQ 
formal meafures againft every adventure to the ports of St. Domingo occupi-? 
ed by the rebels. The fyfjtem of tolerance which produces this commerce, 
which fuffers its being armed, which encourages by impunity its extenfion and 
its excefs, iCannpt longer remain ; and the emperour and king my mafter, ex-. 
pedis from the dignity and the candour of the government of the union, thaf; 
an end will be put to it promptly, 

I add to this difpatch a copy of the official note, which has already been 
tranfmitted to yoy. I earneftly requeft, that you acknowledge the receipt of 
|both, and receive anew aflurances of my high conlideration, 

(Signed) TyRREAU. 

faithfully tranflated. 

J. Wagner, Chief Clerk, Deparfment^ of State, 

from Mr, TArLEYRAND to Gen. ArmstronP, nvithout date, but received 
in Gen. Armjlrong^s letter to the Secretary of State, of lOtb Aug. 1805, 

Sir — I have feveral times had the honour to call your attention to the 
commerce carried on from the pqrts of the United States to thofe of St. Do- 
jningo occupied by the rebels. Thefe commercial communication^ 
would appear to be almoft daily increafed. In order to cover their true 
fdeftination, the veffels are cleared for the Wefi Indies, without a more particr 
ular defignation of the place, and with the aid of thefe commiffions, provif-^ 
ions, arms, and other obiedts of fupply, of which they ftand in need, arc car- 
ried to the rebels of St. Domingo. 

Although thefe adventures may be no more than the refqlt of private fpecu- 
lations, the government of the United States is not the lefs engaged to put an 
end to them, by a cpnfequence of the obligations v/hich bind together all the 
civilized powers, all thofe who are in a ftate of peace. No government can 
fecond the fpirit of revolt of the fubje(3:s of another poM'er ; and, as in this 
ftate of things, it cannot maintain communications with them, it ought not to 
favour thofe which its own fubjecfVs maintain. 

|t is impoffible, that the government of the United States, fliould longep 



AMERICAN STATE rAPEIUS, 13 

ftrnt Us eyes upon the communications of their commerce with St. Domingo. 
The adventures for that ifland are malcing with a fcandalous publicity. Tl'cy 
are fupported by armed velTeis ; at their return, feaRs are given, in order to 
vaunt the fuccefs of their fpeculations ; and the acknowledgment, even the 
eulogies of the government are fo much relied upon,that it is at thefc feafts,and 
in the midft of an immenfc concoiirie, where are found the firit authorities of 
Ihe country, that the principles of the government of Haiti are celebrated,and 
that vows are made for its duration. 

I have the honour, fir, to tranfmit to your excellency an extraft of an Ame- 
rican journal, in which are contained fundry details ofafeaft, given in the 
port of New York, on board of a convoy which had arrived from St. Do- 
Biingo. 

The ninth toaft,given to the government of Haiti, cannot fail to excite your 
indignation. It is not, after having covered every thing with blood and with 
ruins, that the rebels of St. Domingo ought to have found apologifts in a na- 
tion, the friend of France. 

But they do not (top at their firft fpeculations. The company of merchants, 
which gave a feaft on the return of their adventure, is preparing a fecond con- 
voy, and propofe to place it under the efcott of feveral armed vefTels. 

I have the honour, lir, to give you this informati^i, in order that you may 
be pleafed to call the moll: ferious attention of your government towards a feries 
of fafts, which it becomes its dignity and candour no longer to permit. The 
federal government, cannot fo far feparate itfelffrom the inhabitants of the 
United States, as to permit to them acfts and communications, which it thinks 
itfelf bound to intcrdid to itfelf ; or, as to think that it can diftinguifh its 
own reponfibiiity from that of its fubjeds, when there is in queftion an unpar- 
alleled revolt, whofe circumftancesand whofe horrible confequencesmuft alarm 
all nations, and who are all equally interefled in feeing it ceafe. 

France ought to expetft from the amity of the United States, and his maief- 
ty chai-ges me, fir, to requeft in his name, that they interdid every private ad- 
venture, which, under any pretext or defignation whatfoever, may be deftined 
to the ports of St. Domingo, occupied by the rebels. 

Receive, General, the aflurances of my high confideration. 

(Signed) Ch. M. TALLEYRAND. 

To his Excellency General Arinflrong, 

Minifter Plenipotentiary of the U. States, 
Faithfully tranflated. 
J. Wagner, Chief Clerk, Department State. 



From iWr. Talleyrand to General Armstrong. 

Paris, •2.^th Thermidor, I5tb j/ear, {l6tb AuguJI, 1805.) 
Sir — Since the letter I had the honour to write to you on the 2d Thermidor, 
concerning the armaments which were making in the ports of the United 
States, for the weftern parts of St. Domingo, frefh information upon this 
point confirms every thing which had been received. The adventures to 
St. Domingo are publickly made ; veflels are armed for war to proteft the 
convoys; and it is in virtue of contraiSts, entered into between Deflalines 
and American merchants, that the latter fend hint fupplies and munitions of 
war. 

I add, fir, to the letter I have the honour to write to you, a copy of a fen-, 
tence given at Halifax in the matter of a merchant of New- York, who had 
conveyed into the revolted part of St. Domingo, three cargoes of gun powder, 
and who was taken on his return by an Englifh frigate. 

If even in the Englifh tribunal, where this prize was condemned, the whol? 
ifland uf St, Domingo was coijfidcrcd as a French colony, how can the fcde- 



14 AMERICAK STATE PATERS. 

ral goyerriraent tolerate that the rebels of this colony fliould continiie to re- 
ceive from America fiicctnirs againft the parent country i* It is impoflible 
that that government (hould be ignorant of the armaments making in its ports. 
Too much publicity is given to them, not to render it reafonable, and it ought 
to perceive that it is contrary to every fyftem of peace and good friendfhip 
to ftiffer longer, in its ports, armaments evidently direded againft France. 

Without doubt the federal government would not w\ih, in order to favour 
certain private fpeculationS) to give new facilities to rebellion and robbery 
(brigandage) ; and tolerance of a commerce fo fcandalous would be unworthy 
of it. Neither your government nor his majeily can be any longer indifferent 
to it ; and as the ferioufnefs of the fad^s, which occafion this complaint, obliges 
his majefty to coniider as good prize every thing which fhall enter the port of 
St. Domingo, occupied by the rebels, and every thing coming out, he per- 
fuades himfelf, that the government of the United States will take, on its part, 
againft this commerce, at once illicit and contrary to all the principles of the 
law of nations, all the repreffive and authoritative meafures proper to put an 
end to it. This fyftem of impunity and tolerance* can no longer continue ; 
and his majefly is convinced, that your government will tliink it due from its 
franknefs promptly to put an end to it. 

Receive, fir, the aflurances of my high eonfiderations. 

(Signed) Ch. M. TALLEYRAND. 

"To hi« Excellency General Armftrong. 

Faithfully tranjlated. 

j. Wagner, Chief Clerk Department State. 



THE VIOLArrON OF NEUTRAL RIGHTS, THE DEPREDATIONS ON THE 
COLONIAL TRADE, AND IMPRESSMENTS OF AMERICAN SEAMEN. 

To the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatifes 
of the United States. 

IN my meffage to both Houfes of Congrefs, at the opening of their prcfent 
fefTion, I fubmitted to their attention, among other fubjeds, the oppreffion of 
our commerce and navigation by the irregular pradices of armed veflels, pub- 
lick and private, and by the introdudion of new principles, derogatory of the 
rights of neutrals, and unacknowledged by the ufage of nations. 

The memorials of feveral bodies of merchants of the United States are novr 
communicated, and will develope thefe principles and piadices, which are 
producing the mofl ruinous effeds on our lawful commerce and navigation. 

The right of a neutral to carry on commercial intercourfe with every part 
of the dominions of a belligerent, permitted by the laws of the country (with 
the exception of blockaded ports, and contraband of war) was believed to 
have been decided between Great-Britain and the United States, by the fen- 
tence of their commiffioners, mutually appointed to decide on that and other 
queftions of difference between the two nations ; and by the adual payment 
of the damages awarded by them againft Great-Britain, for the infradions of 
tiiat right. When, therefore, it was perceived that the fame principle was 
revived, with others more novel, and extending the injury, inftrudions were 
given to the minifter plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of Lon- 
don, and remonftrances duly made by him on this fubjed, as will appear by 
documents tranfmitted herewith. Thefe were followed by a partial and 
temporary fufpenfion only, without any difavowal of the principle. He has, 
therefore, been inftruded to urge this fubjed anew, to bring it more fully to 
the bar of reafon, and to inlift on rights too evident and too important to be 
fyjTJSndered. In the mean time, the evil is proceeding under adjudications 
* N^pourreit dursr d^ advantage. 



AMKRICA.V STATE FAPEilS. iS 

^oOndccI on the principle which is denied. Under thefe circumftances, the 
fubjeft piefciits itfeU' for the confidcration of congicfs. 

On the imprcfiment of our feanncn, our remouRrances have never been in* 
termitted. A hope exiftcd at one moment, of an arrangement which might 
have been fuhmitted to j but it ibon palled away ; and the pracftice, though 
relaxed at times in the diftant feas, has been couftantly purfned in thole in 
our neighbourhood. The grounds on which the rtclamations on this fubjc<i:t 
have been urged, will appear in an extract from inftruftions to our minifter at 
London, now communicated. TH : JEFFERSON. 

January 17, 1806. 

Extract of a let ^'er from the Secretary of State to James Monroe, ^JB/'j. dated 
Department of State, April 12, 1S06. 

" THE papers herewith inclofed, explain particutarly the csfe of the briig 
Aurora. 

" The fiim of the cafe is, that whilft Spain was at war with Great Britain, 
this veflel, owned by a citizen of the United States, brought a cargo of Span- 
i(h produce, purchafed at the Havana, from that pla-ce to Charlelton, where 
the cargo was landed, except an infignificant portion of it, and the duties paid, 
or fecured, according to law, in like manner as they are required to be paid, 
or fecured, on a like cargo, from whatever port, meant for home confump- 
tion ; that the cargo remained on land about three weeks, when it was re- 
ftiipped forBarcelona, in old Spain, and the duties drawn back, with a deduc- 
tion of three and a half per cent, as is permitted to imported articles in all 
cafes, at any time within one year, under certain regulations, which were 
purfued in this cafe j that the vefiel was taken on her voyage by a Britifli 
cruifer, and fent for trial to Newfoundland, where the cargo was condemned 
by the court of vice admiralty ; and that the cSufe was carried thence, by ap- 
peal, to Great Britain, where it was apprehended that the fentence below 
would not be reverfed. 

The ground of this fentence was, and that of its confirmation, if fuch be 
the refult, muft be, that the trade in which the veflel was engaged was un-» 
lawful, amd this tmlawfiilnefs muft reft, firft, on the general principle aflumed 
by Great Britain, that a trade from a colony to its parent country, being a 
trade not permitted to other nations in thne of peace^cannot be made lawful 
to them in time of war ; fccondly, on the allegation that the continuity of 
the voyage from the Havana to Barcelona was not broken by landing the car- 
go in the United States, paying the duties thereon, and thus fulfilling the le- 
gal pre-requifites to a home confumption ; and, therefore, that the cargo 
was fubjed to condemnation, even under the Britifh regulation of January, 
1798, which fo far relaxes the general principle as to allow a dired trade be- 
tween a belligerent colony, and a neutral country carrying on fuch a trade. 

With rcfpcdt to the gen'eral principle which difallows to neutral nations, in 
time of war, a trade not allowed to them in time of'peace, it may be obfcr- 
ved, 

Firft, That the principle is of modern date ; that it is maintained, as is 
believed, by no other nation but GreatBritain ; and that it was afllimed by her 
nnder the aufpices of a maritime afcendency, which rendered fuch a principle 
fubfervient to her particular intereft. The hiftory of her regulations on this 
fubjcdt fhews, that they have been conftantly modified under the influence of 
that confideration. The courfe of ihele modifications will be feen in an ap- 
pendix to the fourth volume of Robinfon's Admiralty Reports. 

Secondly, That the principle is manifeftly contrary to the general intereft of 
commercial nations, as well as to the law of nations fettled by the moft ap- 
proved authorities, whidh recognizes no reftraints on the trade of nations no^ 
gt war, with nations at war, other than that it iball be impartial between tbe 



16 Americ'.n state papers. 

latter, that it fhall not exteiid to certain military articles, nor to the franfpol'*' 
tation of perfons in military fervice, nor to places adtiLilly blockaded or be-' 
fieged. 

Thirdly, That the principle is the more contrary to reafon and to right, 
inaimuch as the admiffion of neutrals into a colonial trade, fljut againft then* 
in time of peace, may, and often does, rtfiilt from conliderations which open 
to neutrals diredt channels of trade with the parent ftate, (hut to them iri 
times of peace, the legality of vviiidi latter relaxation is not known to have 
been contefted ; and inafmuch as a commerce may be, and frequently is, 
opened in time of war, between a colony and other countries, from conlider- 
ations which are not incident to the war, and which would produce the fame 
efFedl in a time of peace ; fuch, for example, as a failure, or diminution of 
the ordinary Ibiirces of neceflary fupplies, or new turns in the courfe of pro-' 
litable interchanges. 

Fourthly, That it is not only contrary to the principles and practice of 
other nations, but to the pradlice of Great-Britain herfelf. It is well known 
to be her invariable pra(5lice in time of war, by relaxations in her navigation 
laws, to admit neutrals to trade in channels forbidden to them in times of 
peace ; and particularly to open her colonial trade both to neutral veflels and 
fupplies, to which it is fhut in times of peace ; and that one at leaft of her 
objecfts in thefe relaxations, is to give to her trade an immunity from capture^ 
to which in her own hands it would be fubjeifted by the war. 

Fifthly, The pradlice which has prevailed in the Britifh domlHions, fane* 
tioned by orders of council and an aft of parliament, [S9 G. s. c. 98.] author- 
izing for Britifh fubjefts a direct trade with the enemy, ftill further diminiflies 
the force of her pretenfions for depriving us of the colonial trade. Thus we 
fee in Robinlon''s Admiralty Reports paflim, that during the laft war a licenf* 
ed commercial intercourfe prevailed between Great-Britain and her enemies, 
France, Spain and Holland, becaufe it comprehended articles neceffary for her 
manufaftures and agriculture ; notwithftanding the effed it had in opening a 
vent to the lurplus produdtions of the others. In this manner fhe aflumes to 
fufpend the war itfelf, as to particular objecfts of trade beneficial to herfelf J 
■whilft fhe denies the right of the other belligerents to fufpend their accuftom- 
cd commercial reftridtions, in favour of neutrals. But the jnjuftice and incon- 
fiftency of her attempt to prefs a flri(ft rule on neutrals, is more forcibly dif- 
played by the nature of tlie trade which is openly carried on between the co- 
lonies of Great-Britain and Spain in the Weft-Indies. The mode of it is de- 
tailed in the inclofcd copy of a letter from , wherein it will be 
fcen that the American veffels and cargoes, after being condemned in Britilh 
courts, under pretence of illicit commerce, are fent, on Britifli account, to the 
enemies of Great-Britain, if not to the very port of the deftination interrupted 
when they were American property. What refpedt can be claimed from 
others to a dodtrine not only of fo recent an origin, and enforced with fo little 
iiniformity,but which is foconfpicuoufly difregarded inprafticeby the nation 
itfelf, which ftands alone in contending for it i 

Sixthly, It is particularly worthy of attention, that the board of commit* 
fioners jointly conftituted by the Britifli and American governments, under 
the 7th article of the tieaty of 1794, by reverfing condemnations of the Britifh 
courts founded on the Britifli inftrudtions of November, 1793, condemned 
the principle, that a trade forbidden to neutrals in time of peace, could not be 
opened to them in time of war ; on which precife principle thefe inftrudtions 
were founded. And as the reverfal could bejuftified by no other authority 
than the law of nations, by which they were guided, the law of nations, accor- 
ding to that joint tribunal, condemns the principle here combatted. Whether 
the Britifli commiflioners concurred in thefe reverfals, dots not appear : but 
whether they did or did not, the decifiori was equally binding ; and affords a 
precedent which could not be difrefpedled by a like fucceeding tribunal, and 
ought not to be without great weight with beth nations, in like queftions re- 
curring between them. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. IT 

On thtfe grounds, the United States may jnftly regard the Biitifh capture* 
and condemnations of neutral trade with colonics of the enemies of Great 
Britain, as violations of right ; and if reafbn, condllency, or that found policy 
which cannot be at variance with either, be allowed the weight which they 
eiight to have, the Britifli government will feel fufficient motives to repair the 
wrongsdonein fuch cafes by its cruizers and courts. 

But, apart from this general view of the fubjeCt, a refufal to indemnify thd 
fufl'erers, in the particular cafe of the Aurora, is deftitute of every pretext ; 
becaufe, in the fecond place, the continuity of her voyage was clearly and pal- 
pably broken, and the trade converted into a new chara<5ler. 

It has been already noted that the Britifii regulation of 1798, admits a di- 
te&: trade in time of war, between a belligerent colony and a neutral country 
carrying on the trade ; and admits confequently the legality of the importa- 
tion by the Aurora^ from the Havana to Charlefton. Nor has it ever been 
pretended that a neutral nation has not a right to re-export to any belligerent 
country whatever foreign productions, not contraband of war, which may 
have been duly iiKorporated and naturalizcd,as a part of the commercial ftoclc 
of the country re-exporting it. 

The queftion then to be decided under the Srftifli regulation itfelf, is, 
whether in landing the cargo, paying the duties, and thus as effectually qual-i 
ifying the articles for the legal confuniption of the country, as if they had 
been its native produdlions, they were not at the fame time eqwally qualified 
with native producflionSjfor exportation to a foreigtt market. That fuch ought 
to be the decifion, refulls irrefiftibly from the following confiderations : 

1. From the refped which is due to the internal regulations of every countiy, 
where they cannot be charged with a temporizing partiality towards parti- 
cular belligerent parties, or with fraudulent views towards all of them. The 
regulations of the United States, on this fubje(5t,mufl be free from every pofli- 
ble imputation } being not only fiiir in their appearance, but juft in their prin- 
ciples,and having continued the fame during the periods of war, as they were 
in thofe of peace. It may be added, that they probably correfpond, in every 
efTcnfial feature relating to re-exportations, with the laws of other commer- 
cial countries, ^nd particularly with thofe of Great-Britain. The annexed 
outline of them, by the fecretary of the tre-afury, will at once explain their cha- 
racter, and fliow that, in the cafe of the Aurora, every legal requifite wasduly 
complied with. 

2. From the impoffibility of fubfliituting any other admiflible criterio1i# 
than that of landing the articles, and othervvife qualifying them for the ufe of 
the country. If this regular and cuftanfiar-y proceeding, be not a bai-rier 
againft further inquiries, where, it may be afked, are the inquiries to ftop ? 
By what evidence are particular articles to be identified on the high feas, or 
before a foreign tribunal ? If identified, how is it to be afcertained whether 
they were imported with a view to the market at hoiiie, or to a foreign mar- 
ket, or, as ought always to be prcfumed, to the oae or the other, as it fhonld 
happen to invite ? or if to a foreign market, whether to one forbidden or per- 
mitted by the Britifh regulations ? for it is to be recollected that among the 
modifications which her policy has given to the general principle afferted by 
her, a diredt trade is permitted to a neutral carrier from a belligerent colony, 
to her ports, as well as to thofe of his own country. If, again, the landing of 
the goods and the payment of the duties be not fnfficitnt to break the contin- 
uity of the voyage, what, it may be afked, is the degree of internal change 
or alienation which will have that effeCt ? May not a claim be fet up to 
trace the articles from hand to hand, from fliip to (hip, in the fame port,'and 
even from one port to another port, as long as they remain in the country ? 
Tn a woi'd, in departing from the fimple criterion provided by the country it- 
felf, for its own legitimate and permanent objeifts, it is obvious, that befides 
the defalcations which might be committed on our carrying trade, pretexts 
v.'illbe given to cruifersfor endlefs vexations on our commerce at larjje, and 

Vol. III. Appendrx. C 



18 ^ AMITRICAN STATE PAPEPS. 

that a latitude and delays will accrue in the diitant proceedings of aHmiralfy 
courts, ftill more ruinous aud inlokrable. 

3. Froiii the deciiion in the Britifh high court of admiralty itfelf, given in 
the cafe of the Polly, I^aficy, mafter, by a judge dtfervedly celebrated for a 
profound judgment, which cannot be fafpefted of leaning towards doctrines 
ii'jjuft or injurious to the rights of his own country. On that occafion he ex- 
prefsly declares ; " It is not my bufinefs to fay what is univerfally.the teft of 
a bona fide importation : it is argued that it would be fufficitnt that the du- 
ties {hould be paid, and that the cargo fhould be landed. If thefe criteria are 
not to be reforted to, ! fliould be at a lofs to know what fhould be the teft ; 
and I am ftrongly difpofcd to hold, that it would bcfufficicnt that the goods 
ihould be landed and the duties paid." 2 Rob. Reports, p. S68 — 9. 

The prefident has thought it proper that yo'J iHould be furnifhed with fuch 
a view of the fubjefl: as is here fketched ; that yoti may make the ufe of it bell 
fuited to the occafion. If the trial of the Aurora fliould not be over, it is quef- 
tiomble whetlfe the go%'ernmcnt will interfere with its court:,. Should the 
trial be over, and tj|p fentence of the vice admiralty court at St. John's have 
been confii loidy TOtt*alte-4^ofc no time in prefenting to the Britiili govern- 
ment a repur.iiiatioh correfponding with the fcope of thefe obfcrvations ; and 
in urging tl'r'.t redrefs in the, c.ife, which is equally due to private juflice, tO' 
the realbiiable expcdlations of the United States, and to that confidence and 
harmony, which ou^ht to be cheriilicd between the two nations." 



LETTER FROM MR. GORli TO MR. MADISON. 

Bnjlon, November i8, 1S05. 

Sir — THE P.iip Indus, David Myrict, mafter, was taken by his Britannick 
inajefty's fiiip the Cambrian, captain John P. Beiesford, in latitude 31. 30^ 
north, and longitude 61. 56. weft, and fent to Halifax, where Oie, and all the 
property on board, belonging to the owners> mailer, and fupercargo, were 
condemned, on the ground, as is faid, of the illegality of the trade which fhe 
was profecuting at the time of the capture. An appeal has been claim- 
ed, and will be duly profccuted, before the lords commilfioners of appeal, in 
Great Britain, by the insurers, to whom the laid fliip and cargo have been 
abandoned. Thefe infurers confifi; of four companies, in the town ofBoflon^ 
incorporated under the names of the Mafllichufctts Fire and Marine Infur- 
ance, the Suffolk Infurance, the Boflon Marine Infurance, and the New Eng- 
land Infurance, who are not only intereftcd in the above decifion, as it relates 
to the particular cafe in which it was rendered, but are deeply concerned on 
account of infurances made by them on vefiels and cargoes that ma.y be em- 
braced, as they fear, by rules and principles faid to have been adopted in the 
cafe of the Indus. Thefe fears derive but too much weight from deciuons 
that have taken place in London, condemning property for being in a com- 
merce always by them tjnderftood to be lawful, not only from their own 
fenfe of the law of nations, but alfo from the affent of Great Britain, dif^ 
covered by her former pradice, and by principles advanced by her judges ia 
fupport of fuch decrees. 

The amount of property withheld, and ultimately depending on the deci- 
fions of the high court of appeals, in the cafe of the Indus, is fufficient, of it- 
felf, to demand their ferious attention ; but when combined with the effect 
of principles, fuppofed to have been applied in this inftance, they are appre- 
henhve of further and ftill greater injuries to their own property, and that of 
their fellow citizens, in this quarter of the country ; and thefe lofTes, fhould 
they be realized, would be encountered in the profecution of a trade, in 
which they felt themfelves as unoffending againft the rights of others.. .^a 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 19 

fecurc from the interniption of the power that now molefts them, as in coaft- 
ing voyages between different parts of the United States. 

They hope, therefore, not to be thought intrufive in afking of the govern- 
ment its interference, through their minifter at the court of London, or 
otherwife, as the prefulent, in his wifdorn, may judge proper, to protect their 
commercial rights, and to obtain redrefs of the particular injury of which 
they complain. They have even felt it a duty, due from them to the govern- 
ment of their country, to apprize thofe entrufted with the adminiftration of 
its concerns, of events, fo injurious in thcmfelves, and pregnant with confe- 
quences fo momentous to their individual property and the general profpei-ily 
of the country. Such refie«5tions have influenced thefe fcveral companies to 
requeft me to prefcnt you a ftatem.ent of the cafe of the Indus, for the in- 
fpec^ion of the government, and the pui-pofes above alluded to ; and alfo to 
fubjoin foine of the rcafons which have occafioned the fccurity with which 
they have hazarded their property on voyages now pretended to be unlaw- 
ful. 

In the fummer of 1804, MefTrs. David Sears and Jonathsftf Chapman, na- 
tive citizens of the United States, and rcfidents in Bolton^owned a fliip call- 
ed the InduE.which they fitted out for a voyage t^j^Kiku Thty put on board 
her 63,640 dollars and three fets of exchange, drawn b)- thcmfelves ou 
Meflrs. John Hodflion and fon, of Amfter-dam, at ninety days fight, for twen- 
ty-five thoufand three hundred guilders, wiiich amount of iV-cie and bills 
they confided to Abiihai Barnar-d, a native citizen of the Ur.itid Slates, and 
fnpercargo. This fiiip and property, altogether owned by themfclves, they 
difpatched with orders to go to the iiles of Fi-anee and Bourbon, and, if able, 
to purchafe a cargo there, fo to inveft the fpecie and bills ; if not, to pro- 
cetrd to Bitavia, for the fame pui-pofe ; if not pradicable there, to go on to 
Calcutta, and obtain a cargo ; with which cargo, whenever procured, the 
faid fliip was direded to return to Bofton, unlefs, before the veflcl fnouki 
quit the ifle of France, or Batavia, a peace Ihould take place in Europe, in 
which event, flic was or-dered to proceed to Falmouth in England, and con- 
form herfelf to the orders of her owners' correfpondents in London. All the 
papers on board fhewcd thefe fads ; and fuch, and fuch only, was the pro- 
perty and deftination of the vefTel and her lading. In a memorandum r-e- 
lating to the purchafe of the cargo, given to the fupercargo, he was r-em.ind- 
ed not to forget to infert in the manifeft, after the arrival of the veflel in 
the tide waters of Bofton, the words " and Embden," viz. from the ille of 
France, or Batavia, to Bofton <' and Embden," as this would not deprive the 
owners of the privilege of unloading wholly in Bofton. The object of this 
requeft was, in cafe of peace, to avoid an expenfe and inconvenience which 
Mr. Sears, the principal owner of this fliip and cargo, fuftei-ed at the laft 
peace, viz. the unloading of the entire cargo of a veffel called the Arab, from 
India, in the port of Bofton, which, under the then exifting circumftances, 
viz. a ftate of peace, he inclined to fend immediately to Europe, but which 
he would not have contemplated, had not peace have taken place, and which 
he did not anticipate when the veflel failed from Bofton, as he did not fore- 
fee a termination of the war ; fuch being the conftruetion put, by the col- 
Icdtor of the port of Bofton and Charleftown, on the laws in force, when the 
veflel referred to arrived, and when the Indus failed in 1804- The expenfe 
of unloading and r-eloading this veflel would have amounted to feveral thou- 
fand dollars : and in cafe of the law being at her arrival as when flie failed, 
and of a peace in Europe, and the owners fending her there, (in which event 
alone did they ever entertain the leaft intention of not cloiing the voyage in 
Amer-ica) this expenfe might have been faved. 

With this property, and under thefe inftrudions, the Indus proceeded on 
her voyage to the ifle of France ; not being able to procure a cargo there, 
£he went to Batavia, where fhe loaded with the proceeds of her fpecie, and 
one fct of her bills. In the profecution of her voyage from Batavia to Bof- 



20 AMERICAN STATE PAPEIIS. 

ton, the fhip was fo damaged by ftorms, that fhe was obliged to put into 
the ide of France, where the veflel was condemned as no longer fea-worthy ; 
the cargo was taken out ; a new vefTcl purchafcd by the fupercargo, which 
he named the Indus, and fuch of the articles as were on board the former 
Indus, and not damaged, were refhipped in the new Indus ; thefe articles, 
together with fome tea, taken on freight for certain citizens of Bofton, there 
to be landed, compofed her entire cargo. With this property flie was within 
a few days fail of her deftined port of Bofton, in the latitude and longitude 
aforefaid, when flje was captured by the Cambrian, fent to Halifax and con- 
demned, as before mentioned. 

The afTumed ground of condemnation was, as the underwriters are in- 
formed, that the direction to infert the words " and Embden" after the ar? 
rival of the veiTd in the port of Bofton, difclofed an intention in the owners 
to continue the voyage to Europe, whereas the only objeft was to referve to 
themfelves the right to obviate any obje<fiion, from the cuftom houfe here^ 
to her proceeding thither, in the event of a peapc between the prelent bel- 
ligerents. 

This is manifeft from the tcftimony of the owners, and is confirmed by 
their inftrudtions to the conductors of this voyage, as to its deftination, in 
cafe of a peace before they quitted India. On this contingency only were 
they to proceed otherwife than to Bofton. The reafon which Mr. Sears di- 
reded the words " and Embden" to be inferted, is obvious from what he 
fuffered in the cafe of the Arab, as related by himfelf and the coiledor of the 
cuftoms ; and that it was only in the event of peace, that he contemplated 
fending to Europe the veiFel and cargo to which his m.emorandum referred, 
is confirmed by his former practice and cotirfe of trade, viz. during the laft 
ten years he has been engaged in voyages to India, and likewife in fliipping 
the produce of the Eaft and Weft Indies to Europe, and in no cafe, during 
the exiftence of war, has he fent to Europe, articles imported by hiinfcif, in 
the fame velfel in which they were brought Irom India. Further, in the cafe 
of the {hip Lydia, which arrived from India at Bofton, in the fummer of 1804, 
and on board which vef]el there vi-as the like inftrui!:tio!i as in the Indus, which 
initruftion was complied with by the mafter, yet, as the war continued, on 
her arrival at Bofton, he fold the whole cargo to a merchant of this town ; 
and alfo that of the Indus, in the voyage preceding the one in which fhe was 
Joft, wherein the like precaution was alio taken, and for the like pnrpofe, 
but as it was war when fhe arrived, the voyage terminated here. Thus, fir, 
in this cafe there exills the moft plenary evidence, that the voyage 
"ivhich the Indus wr^s performing, when captured, was direft from Ba- 
tavia to Bofton, there to terminate. A trade perfedtly legal, not only in 
the underftanding of the owners, but fo acknowledged, admitted, and declared 
by Great Britain, in her pra(^l:ice, for ten years paft, in her inftrn(5tions to 
her cruifers, in the decrees of her courts, and in the rules and principles ad- 
vanced by her judges in promulgating their decrees. 

The principle underftood to be adumed by Great Britain is, that in time of 
war a trade, carried on between two independent nations, one neutral and the 
other belligerent, is unlawful in the neutral, if the fame trade was not allow- 
ed and pracftifed in time of peace. This principle, though afliimed by Great 
Britain, is now, and always has been, refifted as unfound,by every other na- 
tion. She always nffumes as a faft, that the trade with a colony has alway? 
been confined excuifively to fnips of the parent country. In virtue, there-? 
fore, of this alTumption of principle and fadl, (he deems unlawful and deroga- 
tory to her lights, the trade of a neutral with the colonies of her enemies. 
However, in the laft war flie fo far modified ht-r principle, as to alTent to the 
Jawfulnefs of the voyage of a neutral, if dire<ft between the ports of the neu- 
tral and the colony of the enemy ; and alfo a trade in fuch colonial articles, 
from the country of the neutral to any other country, even to the parent 
country of fuch colony, provided fuch articles were imported, bona fide,for the 
ufeofthc neutral, and there purchafedj or afterwards Ihipped by himftlf ; and' 



AMERICAN STATK PATFRS. 21 

alfo in articles the produce of the parent kingdom, from the neutral ftate tQ 
the colony of that metropolitan king;dom, provided the exporting and import- 
ing were, bona fide, as in the otiier cafe. But this modification flie always 
atfeded to confider as relaxation of her ftrid ri^'hts, and from this confidera- 
tion alTiimed greater authorities to interfere with the permitted trade, as llic 
would fay, of neutrals. 

The underwriters have therefore thought it important to examine how far 
the dodrine is fandioned by the law of nations, and the grounds, on which it 
is fuppofed to reft, are conformed to, or coKtravened, by the pradice of the 
belligerents themielvcs. 

This principle was firft brought forward in the war of 1756, and was then 
attempted to be fupported on the dodrines advanced by Bynkerfhoop. You, 
fir, to whom the writings of this eminent civilian are doubtlefs familiar, muft 
be aware that the rule laid down by him, is brought forward to a very difle- 
rent purpofe, and from the manner in which he treats on the rights of neu- 
trals, and the hiftorical fad quoted from Livy, to illuflrate and fandion the 
principle aflerted, fliows that it can by no means warrant the proceedings 
which it has been attempted to juftify ; and that there is no analogy between 
the cafe cited and that of the mere peaceable trade of a neutral with a belli- 
gerent, in articles not contraband of war, nor to places under blockade. 

His general pofition is,that whatever nations had the power and faculty to do 
in time peace, they have the right to do in time of war ; except that they 
have not a right to carry to either of two enemies articles contraband of war,or 
to trade to blockaded places, becaufe this would be to intermeddle in the war. 

The author before cited is the principal, if not the only one,whofe opinions 
^re adduced, as capable of affording fupport, or in any way bearing upon this 
dodrine. An authoiity, however, to interrupt the trade of a neutral in war, 
which he was not free to carry on in peace, is afTumed as a legitimate confe- 
quence of his acknowledged rights. The law of nations not only prefcribes 
rules for the condud, and fupports the rights of nations at war, but alfo con- 
tains regulations and principles by which the rights of fuch as remain at peace 
are proteded and defined. 

The intercoutfe between independent nations muft exclufivcly reft on the 
laws which fuch nations may choofe to eftabliih. This is' a natural confe- 
quence of the equality and independence of nations. Each may make fuch 
commercial and other internal regulations as it thinks proper. It may open 
its whole trade to all foreign nations, or admit them only to a part ; it may 
indulge one nation in fuch a commerce and not others ; it may admit tlieni 
at one time and refufe them at r:nother ; it may refti id its trade to certain 
parts of its dominions and refufe the entrance of ftrangers into others. In this 
refped it has a right to confult only its own convenience, and whatever it fliall 
choofe to admit to others, may be enjoyed by them without confulting a thir4 
power. Gr-eat Britain ads upon this principle : at one time flie executes her 
navigation law with ftridnefs ; at other times fhe relaxes moft of its regula- 
tions, according to the eftimate fhe forms of advantage or difadvantage to be 
derived from its execution or relaxation : neither does /he allow the compe- 
tence of any foreign power to call in queftion her right fo to do. In time of 
peace (lie compels a ftrid adherence to the principles and letter of her navi- 
gation ad : in time of war flie fufpends moft of its provifions, and to this fhe 
is doubtlefs induced by paramount intereft of manning her navy ; whereby fhe 
IS enabled to employ a much greater number of feamen in her own defence,anc^ 
to deftrov the commerce of her foes. 

in confequence of a fuperiority derived, in fome dcgree,from this relaxatior. 
England is rendered an entrepot for receiving and fupplyingall the produds o? 
the world ; and after reaping a confiderable revenue from the merchandife 
thus introduced, fhe furniflies not only the continent of Europe generally^ 
but her own enemy with fuch articles as ave wanted, many of which fhe pre- 
vents his receiving in the ordinary courfe. 
fPoU ;■. I.^fky. Robir.fon'iAdmirilty Reports, p. 36 1. Emmanuel Robinfon, p.iS6, pa^ticvlarly J93. 



iSS AMERICAN STATE FAPEUS. 

The Other nations of Europe, poflTeiTing foreign colonies, and influenced by 
motives of convenience, certainly not !>y confiderations of a higher nature 
than aduatt." Great Britain, find tliiiir advantage in a fimilar change of their 
cornnieicial fyflems. . "^ 

The mere circuinftance, that the innocent property of a neutral is engaged 
in a trade permitted now, though prohibi'.ed at a former period, is in itftlf 
perfedly innocent, and does not feem capable of inlcriering with the lights or 
juifcifying the complaints of a third power. 

The ordinary policy of a nation may be to encourage the manufadure or 
growth of a certain article within its own dominions, and for this end may 
prohibit or reilrit'l: the importation of the like articles from other countries. 
Does the repeal or fufpention of fuch reftriiStion confer any right to impede 
the tranfportation, by a third, of the article, the prohibition whereof is fuf- 
pended ? Becanfe the corn laws of a nation operate three years in five, as a 
prohibition to the importation of all corra, can it be inferred that a friendly 
power Ihor.kl abftain from carrying its furplus corn to market ? Has any bel- 
ligerent a right to ftop the corn owned by neutral meichant6,on the way to its 
enemy, whofe crops have failed and prohibitory lavvj have been repealed ? 
The fimple (late of the cafe, that the trade, though illegal in peace, is legal in 
war, decides the qutftion. 

Rccomfe is therefore had to another principle, in order to render that un- 
lawful, which, on every ground of the equality and independence of nations, 
is lawful. 

The belligerent has a right to diftrefs the perfon and property of his enemy 
and thc-reby compel a rubmifnon to his demand, and for this purpofe, he may 
ufe all the means in his power. 

By interrupting the trade of neutrals, which is opened to them in war, and 
was prohibited in peace, the belligerent diflrtfTcs his enemy, Icfl'ens his re- 
venue, prevents the excrcife of his commercial capital and the employment 
of his merchants, and deprives him of the enjoyment of thufe articles, which 
adrainifter to his comfort and convenience ; therefore fuch interruption is 
lawful. 

An obvious anfwer to this reafoning is, that it proves too much, is founded 
on a principle {\^ comprehenfive as to embrace all traiie between neutr;,ls and 
a nation at war. If it diftrefs a nation to interrupt that commerce, which has 
become lawful fince t!ie war, it would diftrefs him much more to cut off all 
trade ; that which was allowed in time of peace, as well as that which was 
not ; and the fame reafon which is ufcd to authorize an interruption of the 
one, would as well juitify the other. Indeed, we have feveral times feen the 
like dodrine extended this length in the heat of conteft ; but no inftance has 
occurred of an attempt to vindicate it in time of peace : for the legality of a 
trade in innocent articles, to a place not blockaded, and the right of the neu^ 
tral to carry ft on, depends entirely on the laws of the two countries, between 
■which, and by whofe inhabitants it is piofecuted, and in no degree on the con- 
fent of the bdiigcrent. If this argument of diftrcf'--, combined with that of 
an unaccuflomed trade, fhould be admitted in all its latitude, no trade with 
belligerents would be legal to neutrals. The enemies of Great Britain would 
be difpofed to attribute much weight to a conlideration of the peculiar ad- 
vantages, which a power conftituted as her's may be fuppofed to derive, and 
fuch evils as flie may be prefumed to prevent, by the relaxation of "ber com- 
picrcial fyftem. A continental power inay derive fome accommodation, and 
fome convenience from relaxing her commercial reftriClions ; but nothing ef- 
fential to her fefety, nothing, as was demonftrated in the laft war, materially 
affeifting the great objeds of the contefl. She might obtain the articlevS of 
Eaft and Weft India produce a little cheaper by thefe means than if compell- 
ed to procure them by her own fliips, or through the medium of her enemy ; 
for it is a circuniftance which very much impairs the argument of diftreffing 
tbe foe, that in modern wars it is the pradice of commercial nations, notwith- 



AMERtCAX STATE PATtinS. ' 25 

ftindinj they refpe^^tively capture each other's property, to open their ports 
for the exchange of their merchandize, by the affidance of neutrals, and in 
this wiy afford the fiiccour they mutually need. It will, however, befaid. 
that it is not the trade between neutral couauies and the metropolitan doniin- 
ions of Europe which is deemed illegal, but the trade of neutrals with their 
colonies. It is not eafy to perceive the grounds on which this diltiniftion rtfts, 
but witliout complaining of an exceptionable rule, bec.iufe the praftice under 
it is not as extenfive as its principle might be luppolLd to warrant, it may be 
examined in the c.ife to which it is applietl. 

The argument of diftrefling the enemy is adduced to vindicate the inter- 
rnption of the trade of neutrals with enemies' colonies. This diftrefs can be 
inflicted in two ways : by depriving the colony of the necefiliry fupplies, or 
the parent country of the colony produdions. To fupply the enemies* colo- 
nies is not conlidered legal, provided it be done from the neutral country ; 
and alfo to furniih the parent country with the produce of the colony, provi- 
ded it be done from the neutral country. The 2rgumeiit,thereforc, of diftreli 
is narrowed down to a mere trifle ; to the addition of a fraiflion in the price 
of the article fupplicd to the parent country : for, fo far as rcfpe<55:s the fup- 
ply of the colony and the finding a market for its produce, and the arguments 
flawing from thence, thtfe, furely the mod plaufible on the fcore of infiidling 
diitrefs, are utterly abandoned. But further, the fame commercial fpirit which 
has been before noticed, leads the great nations of Europe tliemfelves to con- 
tribute to thofe very fupplies, the depriving the enemy whereof is alleged a.^ a. 
juftifuation for interrupting the trade of neutrals. Not only a trade in Eu- 
rope, but a regular and authorized trade, to the extent of every necefifary and 
alniott every other fupp'y, was carried on during the laft war between the 
Britith and Spinifh colonies : and inftances have again and again occurred, 
and before the clofe of the late war, ceafed to be coniidered as extraordiuary, 
where the cargoes of neutral vefiels bound to the Spanilh colonies were fciz- 
ed by the Britilh, and condemned in the vice-admiralty courts, on pretence 
that the trade was illegal ; and the articles thus (topped and made prize of, 
under the plea of diftrefljng the enemy, were fliipped on board a Span^fli or 
Britifh vefiel, fupplied with a Britifh licenfe, and fent to the original port of 
their deflination. Surely, fuch a mode of diftreffing the enemy may be more 
properly denominated diftreffing the neutral, for the purpofe of fupplying the 
enemy at the exclufive profit of the belligerent. 

Such, fir, are fome of the obfervations which thefl gentlemen make on the 
difference between the praflice and avowed principles of belligerent?, and the 
unavoidable confequences of fuch principles, and which fatisfy their minds 
that, according to the prafticc of belligerents themfelves, there is no founda- 
tion for the arguments raifed on pretence of diftrefling the enemy, and that 
interrupting a trade in war, becaufc not exercifed in peace, is inconfiftent with 
the equality and independence of nations, and an infringement of their per- 
fect rights. It is alfo evident that the wants and interefts of all nations at war, 
even of thofe who pofTefs the moft powerful commercial and military navy, 
require them to contradift in their own praiftice thofe principles which are 
avowed in juftification of the injuries they inflift on neutrals. 

To fupport this doftrine it is alfo ncceffary to afl'ume as true, that all trade 
and intercourfe between the colonies of the different European powers, and 
other countries, have been conftantly and uniformly interdii?i:ed iri time of 
peace, and that fuch colonies depended exclufively on the metropolitati king- 
dom for fupplies of every kind. That nothing could be received by or from 
them, but through the mother country ; except when the overpovi'cring force 
of the puhlick enemy had prevented all fuch communication. This fuppofed 
exclufive trade fo confidently affumed, will, on examination, be found fubjedt 
to many exceptions. It is well known that fome of the Britifli Wefl: India 
colonies, during the commotions, which exifted in England, in confequencc 
of the difagreeaient between Charles the firft, and his parliament, exported 



*-4 AMERICAN STATU rAPERS. 

their produce to Europe by Dutch fliips, manned with Dutch feamctl, and 
that the navigilion ail originated in the doul^le view of puniihing fomc ot^ 
thefe colonies, who had dilcovered an attachment to the caufe of defeated 
royalty, and of curtailing the means enjoyed by the Dutch, of increafing their 
•wealth, influence, and power. An intercourfe has always been admitted ; 
at fome times very retrained ; at others more extended, as fuited the ca- 
price of the governours, or as the necefTlty of the colonies required. 

Until a period fubfequent to the treaty of Utrecht, France fecms to have 
paid no attention to her Weft India colonies. Previous to that time, they 
do not appear to have enjoyed any conftant oorrefpondence, or direct inter- 
courfe with the mother country ; and at all times, as well before, as fince 
the independence of the continental colonies of Great Britain, a diredl trade 
has exifted between the colonies of France and thofe of Great Britain in the 
Weft Indies, and alfo with the fettlements on the continent of North Amer- 
ica, more or lefs limited, as real or pretended convenience demanded. 

Great Britain, prior to the independence of the United States, had lefs 
occalion to admit the entry of velll'ls and merchandize from, or the export 
of the produce of her colonies to, any other than her own dominions ; yet, 
inftances are not wanting of the relaxation of her navigation adt, for both 
purpofes ; and in the year 1739, a bill pafled the parliament, allowing the 
fugar colonies, for a limited time, to export their produce to foreign ports. 
In fadt, colonies depending on other countries for tlieir fupplies, and at a 
diftance from their parent country, muft, at times, admit the intercourfe of 
foreigners, or fufFer the greateft impoverifliment and diftrefs. It will not be 
denied, that the Britifh provinces in the Weft Indies depend, in a great mea- 
fure, if not altogether, on the United States for their corn. True it is, 
that the fhipment is generally made in Britifli vefTels ; but fiiould the Uni- 
ted States deem it for their intereft, to infift on its being tranfported thither 
in American fhips, it is not certain that the convenience, not to fay the ne- 
ceffities of the colonies, would not render an acquiefcence advifable. The 
fa(5t is, in regard to the colonies in the Weft Indies, whether belonging to 
France or Great Britain, that the monopoly has not been, and in the nature 
of things never can be, very ftrid, conftant, and cxclufive. The United 
States always have enjoyed, and without hazarding much one may pronoiuice 
with confidence, that they always muft enjoy, a dired; intercourfe with their 
colonies, however adverfe to the difpofitions or fuppofed intereft of the par- 
ent countries in Europe. Thus ftands the fadt of an accuftomed trade, in 
time of peace, as relates to the Weft Indies. In regard to the Eaft Indies, it 
is certain that the vefTels of the United States have always gone freely to the 
Britifli fettlements there, and it is believed, that the vefTels of our country 
were the firft to export fugars from Bengal, and that their exportations have 
augmented immenfely the culture of that article in that country. To many 
of the Dutch fettlements our velfels have gone with but little interruption ; 
and to fome of thefe, and to the French pofTefTions, more efpecially to the 
ifles of France and Bourbon, the trade of the United States has been con- 
ftant, uninterrupted, and increafing, ever fince the year i7?4. It is difficult 
then, sir, for thefe gentlemen to conceive how the dodtrine or the fadl, af- 
fumed by Great Britain, can be fupported by the law of nations, or recon- 
ciled to the truth. 

Moreover, Great Britain profefTes, that the decifions of her admiralty 
courts are always regulated by the law of nations ; that ihey do not bend to 
particular circumftances, nor are guided by the orders or inftrudions of the 
government. The principles of this law are immutable ; being founded on 
truth and juftice, they are ever the fame. Now it appears from the pradtice 
of Great Britain herfelf, that in the war of 1744, and in that which was con- 
cluded in 1783, whether the trade was an accuftomed one in time of peace, 
made no part of the difcuflTion, nor was it pretended, that the trade not ha- 
ving been profecuted in peace, fubjetSted the veflel or cargo to forfeiture, in 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. HB 

war. It iecms more like the offspring of her pre-eminent power on the ocean, 
in the two wars of 1756, and that which' lately ended, than the legitimate 
doftrine of right and juftice. In the war of 1756, Dutch veflels by fpecial 
licenie from France, were permitted to export the produce of the French co- 
lonies. Thefe were captured and condemned, on the ground, that by adop- 
tion they had become French veflels. Afterwards the property was carried to 
Monte Chrifti, and exported thence in Dutch veflels. Particular trades, and 
fpecial privileges were alfo allowed by France, to veflels belongin;g to citizens 
ofAmfterdam, as a gratification for their peculiar exertions to induce the ftadt- 
holder to take part with France againft Great Britain. Vcfl~els and their car- 
goes fo circumftanced, were captured and condemned by the Britifh, and 
this principle was then brought forward to juftify their condudt, as dovering* 
in their courts, all the cafes by a rule as extenfive as was the power and cu- 
pidity of their cruifcrs on the fea. 

In the war for the independence of America, this principle, fet up for the 
firft time in that which preceded it, and contrary to farmer pradtice, was 
abandoned. This is exemplified in the following cafe, viz : A vefle! bound 
from Marfeilles to Martinico, and back again, was taken on the outward 
voyage ; the vice admiralty court at Antigua gave half fj-eight. On appeal, 
the lords of appeal gave the whole. It is laid in anfwer to this, that France 
opened her colonies, and though it was during the exiftence of war, yet it was 
the profefllon of keeping them always fo, but was afterwards found delufive. 
The lords of appeal, however, in the cafe of the Danifli veffel, could not have 
ac!ited upon fuch grounds : for their decifion was in 1786, three years after 
the peace, and after it was manifeft, if any doubt had before exifted, that the 
general opening of the trade between the colonies and the mother country, 
to foreigners, was a temporary expedient, and dependent on the duration of 
the war. The claim before them was merely equitable, being for freight of 
that part of the voyage which had not been performed, and to obtain whicU 
the party claiming is bound to fhevv, that he has offended no law and inter- 
fered with no rights of the belligerent. 

What renders the condaft of Great Britain peculiarly injurious to the mer- 
chants of our country at this time, is the extenflon of this offenfive dodrine* 
contrary to her gwn exprefs and publick declaration of the law during the lalt 
war ; far it was then declared, that the importation from an enemy's colony, 
to the country to which the fhip belonged, and the fubfequent exportation 
was lawful ; and fo of property, the produce of the parent country, going 
from the United States to the colony — Vide cafes of Immanual and Polly, ia 
Robinfon's Admiralty Reports, before cited. Whereas property going froin 
the United States, the produce of an enemy's country, to her colony^ although. 
bona fide imported and landed in the United States, and exported on the fole 
account and rifk of the American merchant, is now taken and condemned, on 
the grounds that the fame perfon and veflel impprted and exported the fame 
articles ; and thus, by an arbitrary interpretation of the intention of the mer- 
chant, the fecond voyage is adjudged to be a continuance of the firft. If this 
new and extraoidinary doftrine of continuity is maintained on the part of 
Great Britain, and acquiefced in by the United States, a very large property, 
now afloat, may be fubjeft to condemnation, and it muft follow, that an ex- 
tenfive trade, which has been carried on with great advantage by the United 
States for thefe twelve years, and admitted to be lawful, will be totally anni- 
hilated. 

The Indus, and cargo, have been condemned on the mere poflibility, that 
the fame might go to Europe, from Bnfton, in cafe of a peace, in whicii event 
Great Britain could pretend to no authority to queltion the voyage ihe fliould 
make. 

Now, to adopt a principle of dubious right in its own nature, and then to 
extend fuch principle to a further reftridrion of the trade of the neutrii with- 

Vol. HI. Appendix. D 



0:6 AMERICAN STATE PAI'ERS. 

out notice, is fpreading a fnare to entrap the property and defeat the acknow-' 
ledged rights to which he is entitled. 

Such are its effeds, both on the individual owners of this property, as well 
as on the underwriters. For Mr. Sears and Mr. Chapman, in planning this 
voyage, and indeed in every one they ever prolecnted, have endeavoured to 
afcertain what the law authorized them to do, as that law was undcrftood 
and pra6tifed by the belligerents, and for this purpofe they examiticd the or- 
dtrs to the Britifh cruifers, the adjudications in the Britilh courts during the 
laft war, and conceived themftlves clearly within even the narrowed limits to- 
which Great Britain profeSTed to circumlcribe the trade of neutrals. The un- 
derwriteis alio have been uniformly guided, in infuring property, by the rule* 
declared and promulgated by the belligerents themftlves. In the prefent cafe, 
they confidered, that according to the cleared evidence of thofe rules, they 
incurred no riik from Britilh cruifers. 

Should then Great Britain undertake to prefume, that the law would au- 
thorize the interruption (jf fuch atrade, thcfe gentlemen cannot bring them- 
felves to believe, that under even fuch imprefllons of her rights fne would fo 
far forget wliat is due to her former underftanding of the law, and to the en- 
couragement given to fiich a commerce, as without notice of her altered fen- 
timents to feize and contifcate the property of thole, who had fo conformed 
their voyages to rules pronounced by hcrfeif. 
1 have t*ie honcur to be, fir, 

With great refoed, your obedient fervant, 

(Signed) C. GORE. 

Honourable "James Ma:Hfon, efq^ 
fecretary of Jlate. 



REMONSTRANCE BY THE MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNT-- 
TED STATES TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 

No. 12, Sept. 23, 1805. 
My Lord, 

I FLATTERED myfelf, from what palTed in our laft interview, that X 
fhould have been honoured, before this, with an anfwer from your lordflnp 
to my letters refpedting the late feizure of American veiTels. I underllood it 
to be agreed, that the difcuffiou which then took place, fhould be confidered 
as unofficial, as explanatory only of the ideas which we might refpedtively en- 
tertain on the fuhjedt, and that your lordHiip would afterwards give me fuch 
a reply to my letters, refp'edting that meafure, as his majefly's government 
might defire to have communicated to the government of the United States.- 
In confequence, I have fince waited with anxiety for fuch a communication, 
in the daily expeiitation of- receiving it. It is far from being my defire to 
give your lordfhip any trouble in this bufinefs which I can avoid, as the time 
which has fince elapfed fufficiently fhews. But the great importance of the 
fubje<fr, which has indeed become more fo by the continuance of the fame 
policy and the frequency of feizures which are ftill made of American vefTels, 
place me in a fituation of peculiar refponfibility. My government will expc<ffc 
of me correft information on this point, in all its views, and I am very defir- 
ous of complying with its juft expe<ii:ation. I muft, therefore, again requeft 
that your lordfiiip would be fo kind as to enable me to make fuch a reprefen- 
tation to my government, of that meafure, as his majefly's government may 
think proper to give. 

I am forry to add, that the longer I have reflefted on the fubjedt, the more 
confirmed I have been in the objedions to the meafure. If we examine it in 
reference to the law of nations, it appears to me to be repugnant to every 
principle of that law ; if by the underftanding, or as it may be more properly 
called, the agreement of our governmeats, refpe(5ting the commerce ia quef-- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 2T 

tlon, I confider it equally repugnant to the principles of that agi'eement. In 
both thefe views your iordfhip will permit me to make fome additional re- 
marks on the lubjtd:. 

By the law of nations as fettled by the moft approved writers, no other rc- 
ftraint is acknowledged, on the trade of neutral nations, with thofe at war, 
than that it be impartial between the latter ; that it fliall not extend to arti- 
cles which are deemed contraband of war ; nor to the tranfportation of ptr- 
fons in military fervice ; nor to places adlually blockaded or belieged. Eve- 
ry other commerce of a neutral with a belligerent is confidertd as a lawful 
commerce ; and every other rtltraint on it to either of the belligerents by the 
other, an unlawful reltraint. 

The lift of contraband it well defined, as are alfo the circumftances which 
conftitute a blockade. The heft authorities have united in confining the firft 
to fuch articles as are uffd in war, and ate applicable to military purpofes ; 
and requiring, to conftitute the latter, the difpofition of fuch a force, confift- 
ing of liationary (hips, fo near the port, by the power which attacks it, as to 
make it dangerous for the vefiTel of a neutral power to enter it. The late 
treaty been Great Britain and Rvjfta^ defignates thefe circumftances as necef- 
fary to conftitute a blockade, and it is believed that it was never viewed be- 
fore in a light more favourable to the invading power. 

The vefTcls condemned were engaged in a commerce between the United 
States and fome port in Europe, or between thofe ftates and the Wejl India 
IJlandj, belonging to an enemy of Great Britain. In the European voyage 
the cargo confifted of the goods of the power to which the colony belonged 
and to which the fliip was deftined. The fiiip and cargo in every cafe, were 
the property of American citizens, and the cargo had been landed, and the 
duty on it paid in the United States. It was decided that thefe voyages were 
continuous, and the veflcls and cargoes were condemned on the principle 
that the commerce was illegal. I beg to refer more efpecially in this ftate- 
ment to the cafe of the Eflex, an appeal from the judgment of the vice admi- 
ralty court at Neiv Providence, in which the lords commiffioners-of appeals 
in confirming that judgment eftabliflied this dodlrine. 

It requires but a flight view of the fubjedt to be fatisfied that thefe condem- 
nations are incompatible with the law of nations as above ftated. None of the 
cafes have involved a queftion of contraband, of blockade, or of any other 
kind that was evercontefted till of late, in favour of a belligerent againft a neu- 
tral power. It is not on any principle that is applicable to any fuch cafe, 
that the meafure can be defended. On what principle then is it fuptT.rted by 
Great Britain P What is the nature and extent of the doctrine i* What a.re. 
the circumftances which recommend, the arguments which fupport it ? For 
information on thefe points we cannot refer to the well known writers on the 
law of nations ; no illuftration can be obtained from them of a dodtrine v-hich 
they never heard of. We muft look for it to an authority more modern ; to 
one which, however refpedtable for the learning and profcflional abilities of 
the judge who prefides, is neverthelefs one which, from many coniiderations, 
is not obligatory on other powers. In a report of the decifions of the court of 
admiralty of this kingdom, we find a notice of a feries of orders iffued by the 
government of different dates and imports, which have regulated the bufinefs. 
The firft of thefe bears date on the 6th of Nov. 1793 ; the fecond on the 8th 
of Jan. 1794 ; the third on the 25th Jan. 1798. Other orders have been ifiu- 
ed fince the commencement of the prefent war. It is thefe orders which have 
authorized the feizures that were made at different times in the courfe of 
the laft war, and were lately made by Britifh cruifers of the vefTels of the Z7«i- 
ted States. Thefe too form the law which has governed the courts in the deci- 
fions on the feveral cafes which have arifen under thofe feizures. The firft of 
thefe orders prohibits altogether every fpecies of commerce between neutral 
countries and enemies' colonies ; and between neutral and other countries, in 
the produdions of thofe colonies j the fecond and fubfequent orders modify 



28 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

it in various forms. The doftrine, however, in every decifion, is the fame ; it 
is contended in each, that the character and juft extent of the principle is to be 
found in the the firft order, and that every departure from it fince has been 
a relaxation of the principle, not claimed of right by neutral powers, but con- 
ceded in their favour gratuitoufly by Great-Britain. 

In fupport of thefe orders, it is urged, that as the colonial trade is a fyftem 
of monopoly to the parent country in time of peace, neutral powers have no 
right to participate in it in time of war,although they be permitted fo to do by 
the parent country r that a belligerent has a right to interdift them from 
luch a commerce. It is on this fyftem of internal reftraint, this regulation of 
colonial trade, by the powers having colonies, that a new principle of the law 
of nations is attempted to be founded : one which fecks to difcriminate in 
refpeCt to the commerce of neutral powers, with a belligerent, between differ- 
ent parts of the territory of the fame power, and likcwife fubverts many other 
principles of great importance, which have heretofore been held facred among 
rations. It is believed that fo important a fuperRrudture was never raifedon 
fo night a foundation. Permit me to alk, does it follow, becaufe the parent 
country monopolifes in peace the whole commerce of her colonies, that in 
war it fliould have no right to regulate it at all ? That on the contrary it 
fhould be conftrued to transfer, in equal extent, a right to its enemy, to the 
prejudice of the parent country, of the colonies, and of neutral powers ? If 
this dofirine was found it would certainly inftitute a new and Angular mode 
of acquiring and loling rights ; one which would be highly advantageous to 
one party, while it wrs equally injurious to the other. To the colonies, 
more efpecially, it would prove peculiarly onerous and oppreffive. It is 
known that they are eftentially dependent for their cxiftence, on fupplies 
from other countries, efpecially the United States of America, who, being 
in their neighbourhood, have the means of furnifhing them with greateft cer- 
tainty, and on the beft terms. Is it not fufficient that they be fubjedted to 
that reftraint in peace, when the evils attending it, by the occafional inter- 
ference of the parent country, may be, and are frequently required ? Is it 
confiftent with juftice or humanity, that it fhould be converted into a princi- 
ple, in favour of an enemy, inexorable of courfe, but otherwife without the 
means of liilening to their complaints, not for their diftrefs or oppreffion 
only, but for their extermination ? But there are other infuperable objedtions 
to this doftrine. Are not the colonies of every country a part of its domain, 
and do they not cnntinue to be fo until they are fevered from it by con- 
queft ? Is not the power to regulate commerce, incident to the fovereignty, 
and is it not co-exteniive over the whole territory which any government 
pofltfres ? Can one belligerent acquire any right to the territory of another 
but by conqucft ? And can any rights which appertain thereto, be otherwife 
defeated or curtailed in war? In whatever light, therefore, the fubjed i» 
viewed, it appears to me evident that this dodrine cannot be fupported. No 
diiiindtion. founded in reafon, can be taken between the different parts of the 
territory of the lame power to juftify it. The feparation of one portion from 
another by the fea gives lawfully to the belligerent which is fupcriour on that 
element, a vaft afcendency in all the concerns on which the fuccefs of the 
xvar, or the relative profperity of their refpedlive dominions, may in any de- 
gree depend. It opens to fuch power ample means for its own aggrandiie- 
ment, and for the harraflment and diftrefs of its adverfary. With thefe it 
^ould be fatisfied. But neither can that circumftance, nor can any of inter- 
nal airangement, which any power may adopt for the government of its do- 
mains, be conftrued to give to its enemy any other advantage over it. They 
certainly do not juftify the doftrine in queftion, which afierts that the law of 
rations varies in its application to different portions of the territory of the 
fame power : that it operates in one mode, in refpe<5t to one, and in another, 
or even not at all, in refpetft to another ; that the rights of humanity, of neu^ 
tral powers, and all other rights, are to fmk. before it. 



A^iii-JUCAK STATE PAPERS. 29 

It is further urged that neutral powers ought not to complain of this rc- 
traint, becaufcthcy ftand under it, on the faiiic ground, with refpe<5t to that 
commerce, which they held in time of peace. But this fadt, if true, gives no 
fupport to the pretenlion. The claim involves a queftion of right, not ofin- 
tereft. If the neutral powers hav.' a right in war to fuch commerce with the 
colonies of the enemies of Great Britain, as the parent ftates refpe<5tively al- 
lowed, they ought not to be deprived of it by her, nor can its juft claims be 
fatisfied by any compromife of the kind alluded to. For this argument to 
have the weight which it is intended to give it, the commerce of the neutral 
powers with thofe colonies (hould be placed and preferved through the war, 
in the fame ftate, as if it had not occurred. Great Britain Ihould in refpedt to 
them take the place of the parent country, and do every thing v\rhich the latter 
would have done had there been no war. To difcharge that duty, it would be 
neceflary for her to eftabliih fuch a police over the colony, as to be able to ex- 
amine the circumftances attending it annually, to afcertain whether the crops 
were abundant, fupphes from other quarters had failed, and eventually to de- 
cide whether under fuch circumftances the parent country would have opened 
the ports to neutral powers. But thefe offices cannot be performed by any 
power which is not in pofleffion of the colony ; that can only be obtained by 
conqueft, in which cafe, the vidtor would of courfe have a right to regulate its 
trade as it thought fit. 

It is alfo faid, that neutral powers have no right to profit of the advantages 
■which are gained in war by the arms of Great Britain. This argument has 
even lefs weight than the others. It does not, in truth, apply at all to the 
queftion. Neutral powers do not claim a right, as already obferved, to any 
commerce with the colonies which Great Britain may have conquered of her 
enemies, otherwife than on the conditions which fhe impofes. The point in 
queftion turns on the commerce which they are entitled to with the colonies 
which fhe has not conquered, but ftill remain fubjed to the dominion of the 
parent country. With fuch it is contended,for reafons that have been already 
given, that neutral powers have a right to enjoy all the advantages in trade 
w hich the parent country allows them : a right of which the mere circum- 
ftance of war cannot deprive them. If Great Britairi had a right to prohibit 
that commerce, it exifted before the war began, and of courfe before fhe had 
gained any advantage over her enemies. If it did not then exift, it certainly 
does not at the prefcnt time. Rights of the kind in queftion, cannot depend 
on the fortune of war, or other contingencies. The law which regulates 
them is invariable, until it be changed by the competent authority. It forms a 
rule equally between belligerent powers, and between neutral and belligerent, 
which is diiflated by reafon and fandtioned by the ufage and confent of nations. 

The foregoing confiderations have, it is prefumed, proved that the claint 
of Great Britain to prohibit the commerce of neutral powers, in the manner 
propofed, is repugnant to the law of nations. If, however, any doubt remain- 
ed on that point, other confiderations which may be urged cannot fail to re- 
move it. The number of orders of different imports which have been if- 
fued by government, to regulate the feizure of neutral veflels, is a proof 
that there is no eftabliihed law for the purpofe. And the ftrictnefs with which 
the courts have followed thofe orders, through their various modifications, is; 
equally a proof that there is no other authority for the government of their de- 
cifions. If the order of the 6lh of November, 1793, contained the true doc- 
trine of the law of nations, there would have been no occafion for thofe which 
followed, nor is it probable that they would have been iffued ; indeed if that 
order had been in conformity with that law, there would have been no occa- 
fion for it. As in the cafes of blockade and contraband, the law would have 
been well known without an order, efpecially one fo very defcriptive, the 
intereft of the cruifers, which is always fufficienrly a6tive,would have prompt- 
ed them to make the feizures, and the opinion of eminent writers, whichin 
that cafe would not have been wanting, would have furnifhcd the courts the 
beft authority for their decifioas. 



30 AMERICAN STATE PAPKRS. 

I fhall now proceed to fiiew that the decifions complained of are contrary 
to the underftanding, or wliat, perhaps, may more properly be called an agree- 
ment of the two governments, on the rubje6t. By the order of the 6th of No- 
vember,! 79:?, fome hundreds of American veffels were feized,carried into port, 
:ind condemned. Thofe feiziires, and concJemnations, became thf fiibjedt of 
an immediate negociation between the two nations, which terminated in a 
treaty, by which it was a;n-eed to fubmit the whole fubjedt to commifiioncrs» 
■who fl)ould be inverted with full power to fettle the controvrrfy which had 
thus arifen. That Ripulation was carried into complete eflttt ; commif- 
fioners were appointed, who examined, laboiioufiy and fully, all the cafes of 
feizure and condemnation which had taken place, and finally decided on the 
fame, in which decifions they condemned the principle of the order and award- 
ed compenfation to thofe who had fuflered under it. Thofe awards have 
hecn fince i~iir!y and honourably difcharged by G. B. It merits particular at- 
tention that a part of the izth article of that treaty, referred exprefsly to the 
point in queftion, and that it was on the folemn deliberation of each govern- 
ment, by their mutual confent, expunged from it. It feems th.erefore to be 
impofribie to confider that tranfitftion, under all the circumftances attending 
itjin any other light than as a fair and amicable adjuftment of the queftion be- ^ N 
tween the parties ; one which authorized the jnft expedation, that it would ~n»^ 
never have become again a caui'e of complaint between them. The fenfe of ^ 
both was expreffed on it in a manner too marked and explicit to admit of a 
different conclufion. The fubjed too was of a nature that when once fettled > 
ought to be confidered as fettled forever. It is not like queftions ofcomm.erce \^ 
between tv/o powers, which alTtdt their internal concerns, and depend, of 
courfe, on the internal regulations of each. When thefe latter are arranged 0^ 
by treaty, the rights which acciue to each party under it, in the interiour of \ 
the other, ceafe when the treaty expires. Each has a right afterwards to de- *\^ 
cide for itfelf in what manner that concern Ihall be regulated in future, and in , 

that decihon to confult foleiy itsintereft. But theprcfi-Ut topick is of a very n^ 
different charadtcr. It involves no queUion of commerce or other internal ^ 
concern between two nations. It refpedts the commerce only, vihich either !^ 
may have with the enemies of the other, in time of war. It involves, there- N 
fore, only a queftion of right, under the law of nations, which in its nature -^"^ 
cannot flutftuate. It is proper to add, that the conclufion, above mentioned, ^'-^ 
was further fupported by the important fad, that, until the late decree in ^ 
the cafe of the E/fex, not one Am.erican vefTcl, engaged in this commerce, had 
been condemned on this doctrine ; that feveral which were met in the chan- 
nel, by the Britilh cruifcrs, were permitted, after an examination of their pa- 
pers, to purfue the voyage. This circumftance juftified the opinion, that 
that commerce was deemed a lawful one by Great Britain. 

There is another ground, on which the late feizures and condemnations 
are cMiiddered as highly objedionable, and furnifh juft caufe of complaint to 
the United States. Until the final report of commiflioners under the 7th article 
pf the treaty of 1794, which was not made until laft year, it is admitted 
that their arbitrament was not obligatory on the parties, in the fenfe in which 
it is now contended to be. Every intermediate declaration, however, by G. 
B. of her fenfe on tiie fubjed, mnft be confidered as binding on her, as it laid 
the foundation of commercial enterprizes, which were thought to be fecure 
while within fliat limit. Your lordfhip will permit me to refer you to fever- 
aI examples of tliis kind, which were equally formal and official, in which the 
fenfe of his majefty's government was declared very differently from 
what it has been in the late condemnations. In Robinfon's reports, vol. 2, 
page 368, (cafe the Polly, I.afkey, mafter) it feems to have been clearly eftab- 
iifhed by the learned judge of the court of admiralty, that an American has a 
right to'import the produce of an enemy's colony into the United States, and 
to lend it on afterwards to the general commerce of Europe ; and that the 
landing the goods, and paying the duties in the Uniled States fhould preclude 



AMERICAN State pafers. Si 

all further queftion relative to the voyage. The terms "for his own ufe/' 
which are to be found in tlie rt-pnrt, are ohvioufiy intended to affcrt the 
claim, only that the property fhall be Annerican, and not that ot a;) enemy ; 
by admitting the right to fend on the produce afterwards to the genera! torn- 
merce of Europe, it is not poirible that thofe terms fiiould convey any other 
idea. A bona fide importation is alfo held by the judge to be fatisfied by the 
landing the goods and paying the duties. This therefore is, 1 think, the true 
import of that decifion-. The <!odrine is again laid down in fiii! more expli- 
cit termj by the government itfeif, in a correfpondence between lord Hawkef- 
biiry and my predeceffor, Mr. King. The cafe was precifeiy Jimiiar to thofc 
wiiicii have been lately before the coitrt. Mr. King complained, m a letter of 
March i8, i8or,that the cargo of an American veflel going frism the United 
States to a SpaniOi colony, had been condemned by the vice admiralty court 
of NafTau, on the ground that it was of the growth of Spnin, which decifioa 
he contended was contrary to the law of nations, and requeltcd that fuitable 
inftrudtions might be difpatched to the' proper officers in the Weft Indies, 
to prevent like abufes in future. 
Lord Hawkefbnry,ina reply of April ii, communicated the report of the king's 
, advocate general, in which it isexprefsly ftated that the produce of an enemy 
may be imported by a neutral into his own country and re-exported thence t» 
the mother country : and in like manner, in that circuitous mode, that the 
produce and manufaftures of the mother country might find their way to its 
colonies ; that the landing the goods and paying the duties in the neutral 
country broke the continuity of the voyage, and legalized the trade, althougii 
the goods were re-lhipped in the iame veflel, on account of the fame neutral 
proprietors, and forwarded for fale to the mother country of the colony. It 
merits attention in this report, (fo clearly and pofitively is the do(ftrine laid 
down, that the landing the goods and- paying the duties in the neutral couu- 
try broke the continuity of the voyage) that it is (tated as a doubtful point whe- 
ther the mere touching in the neutral country to obtain frelh clearances will 
be confidered in the light of the dire<ft trade ; that no pofitive inhibition is 
infifted on any but the direift trade between the mother country and the co- 
lonies. 

This dodtrine, in the light herein ftated, is alfo to be found in the treaty be- 
tween Great Britain and Ruffia, June i;, 1801. By the 2d fed;ion of the ^A 
ai'ticle, the commerce of neutrals in the produ(5tions or raanufadtures of the 
enemies of Great Britain, which have become the property of the neutral, is 
declared to be free ; that fedtion was afterwards explained by a declaratorj? 
article of October ao of the fame year, by which it is agreed, that it Ihall not 
be underftood to authorife neutrals to carry the produce or merchandife of aa 
enemy either diredly from the colonies to the parent country, or from the pa- 
rent country to the colonies. In other refpe^ts the commerce was left on the 
footing on which it was placed by that fecftion, perfedtly free, except in the 
direft trade between the colony and the parent country. It is worthy of re- 
mark that, as by the reference made in the explantaory article of the treaty 
with Rujfia to the V. S. of America, it was fuppofed that thofe ftates and Ruf- 
fia, Denmark,a.m\ S^cveJen, had a common interefl in neutral queftions, fo it wa» 
obvioufiy intended, from the fimilarity of fentiment which is obfervable betweea 
that treaty as mentioned, and the report of the advocate general above mention-- 
ed,to place all the parties on the fame footing. After thefe afts of the Britifix 
government, which being official were made publick, it was not to be exped:e<5- 
that any greater reftraint would have been contemplated by it, on that cona- 
merce, than they impofe ; that an inquiry would ever have been made^ 
not whether the property with which an American veflel was charged belong- 
ed to a citizen of the United Sates or an enemy, but whether it belonged to 
this or that American ; an inquiry which impofes a condition which it is be- 
lieved that no independent nation, having a jufl fenfe of what it owes to its 
yights or its honour, can ever comply with. Much kfs was it ta be expecleif 



82 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

that fuch a reftraitlt would have been thought of after the report of the corr|.» 
miffioners above adverted to, which feemed to have placed the rights of the 
United States inconteftiljly on a much more liberal, and as is contended, juft 
footing. 

It is proper to add, that the decree of the lords commiflioners of appeals in 
the cafe of the Ejjex produce the fame effedt as an order from the government 
would have done. Prior to that decree, from the commencement of the war, 
the commerce in queilion waspurfued by the citizens of the United States, as 
has been already obferved, without moleftation. It is prefumable that till then 
his majefty's cruifers were induced to forbear a feizure, by the fame confidera* 
tion which induced the American citizens to engage in the commerce, a be- 
lief that it was a lawful one. The fads above mentioned were equally before 
the parties, and it is not furprifing that they fliould have drawn the fame con- 
clufion from them. That decree, however, opened a new fcene. It certainly 
gave a fignal to the cruifers to commence the feizures which they have not 
failed to do, as has been fufficiently felt by the citizens of the United States, 
who have fufFered under it. According to the information which has been 
given me, about fifty veiTels have been brought into the ports of Great Britain 
in confequence of it, and there is reafon to believe that the fame fylem is pur- 
fued in the Weft-Indies and elfewhere. The meafure is the more to be complain- 
ed of, becaufc G. Britain had, in permitting the commerce for two years, giv- 
en a fandlion to it by her condudt, and nothing had occurred to create a fufpi- 
cion that her fentiments varied from her conduft. Had that been the cafe 
or had (he been difpofed to change her condud: in that refpedl towards theU. 
§tates, it might reafonably have been expeded that fome intimation would 
have been given of it before the meafure was carried into efFed. Between 
powers who are equally delirous of preferving the relations of friendfliip with 
each other, notice might in all fuch cafes be expeded. But in the prefent 
cafe the obligations to give it feemed to be peculiarly ftrong. The exiftence of 
a negociation which had been fought on the part of the United States fome 
confiderable time before my departure for Spain, for the exprefs purpofe of 
adjufting amicably and fairly all fuch queftions between the two nations, and 
pollponed on that occafion to accommodate the views of his majefty's govern- 
ment, furniflied a fuitable opportunity for fuch an intimation, while it could 
not otherwife than increafe the claim to it. 

In this communication I have made no comment on the difference which is 
obfervable in the import of the feveral orders which regulated, at different 
times, the feizure of neutral veflels, fome of which were more moderate than 
others. It is proper, however, to remark here, that thofe which were 
ifflied, or even that any had been iflued fince the commencement of the pre- 
fent war, were circumftances not known till very lately : On principle it is 
acknowledged, that they are to be viewed in the fame light, and it has been 
my object to examine them by that ftandard, without going into detail, or 
making the (hades of difference between them. I have made the examination 
with that freedom and candour which belong to a fubject of very high impor- 
tance to the United States, the refult of which has been, as I prefume, to 
prove, that all the orders are repugnant to the law of nations,and that the late 
condemnations which have revived the pretentions on the part of Great Bri- 
tain., are not only repugnant to that law, but to the underftanding which it 
was fuppofed had taken place between the two powers, refpeding the com- 
merce in queftion. 

I cannot conclude this note without adverting to the other topicks depend- 
ing between our governments which it is alfo muoh wifhed to adjuft at this 
time. Thefe are well known to your lordfliip, and it is therefore unnecefTary 
to add any thing on them at prefent. With a view to perpetuate the friend- 
fliip of the two nations, no unnecefTary caufe of coUifion fliould be left open. 
Thofe reverted to, are believed to be of this kind, fuch as the cafe of bound- 
ary, the impreflTment of fearaen> 5cc. fince it is prefumed there can be "o real 



AMERICAN STATE i'Al'KRS. 33 

Confl!i5liiig intereft between them oa thofc points. The general contimercial 
telation may then be adjufted orpollpo:icd as may be inoft coiififtent with the 
views of his majefty's government. On that point alfo it is believed that it 
"wili not be difficult to make Inch an arrangement as, by giving fufficicnt fcope 
to the refources, to the indultry and the enterprize of the people of both coun- 
tries, may prove highly and reciprocally advantageous to them. In the to- 
pic!; of impreiTment, however, the motive is more urgent. In that line the 
rights of the United States have been fo long trampled under foot, the feel- 
ings of humanity in refpedl to the futfcrers, and the honour of their govern- 
ment, even in tiieir own ports, fo often outraged, that the aftonifhed world 
may begin to doubt, whether the patience with which thcfc injuries have becT 
bt)rne ought to be attributed to generous or unworthy motives : Whether 
the United Slates merit the rank to which in other refpe<5ts they are juftly en- 
titled among independent powers, or have already, in the very morn of their 
political career, loft their energy, and become degenerate. The United 
States are not infenfible that their condudl has expofed them to fuch fufpicions, 
though they well know that they have not merited them. They are aware, 
from the fimilarity in the perfon, in the manners, and above all, the identity 
of the language, which is common to the people of both nations, that the fub- 
jed is a difficult one ; they are equally aware, that to Great-Britain alfo it is 
a delicate one, and they have been willing in feeking an arrangement of this 
important intereft, to give a proof, by the mode, of their very fincere defire to 
cheriflithe relations of friendfhip with her. I have only to add, that I (hall 
be happy to meet your lordfhip on thefe points, as foon as you can make it 
convenient to you. I have the honour to be, with high confideration, your 
lordfliip's moft obedient fervant. 

(Signed) JAMES MONROE. 



KXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MR. 
MONROE, RELATIVE TO IMPRESSMENTS, DATED 5TH JANUARY, 1804. 

WE confider a neutral flag, on the high feas, as a fafeguard to thofe 
failing under it. Great Britain, on the contrary, afTerts a right to iearch for, 
and feize her own fubjects ; and under that cover, as cannot but happen, are 
often feizcd and taken off, citizens of the United Stats, and citizens or fub- 
jcdts of other neutral countries, navigating the high fcas, under the protec- 
tion of the American flag. 

Were the right of Great Britain, in this cafe, not denied, the abufes flow- 
ing from it would juftify the United States in claiming and expcding a dif- 
continuance of its cxercife. But the right is denied, and on the beft grounds. 

Although Great Britian has not yet adopted, in the fame latitude with moft 
other nations, the immunities of a neutral fla^:, llie will not deny the general 
freedom of the high feas, and of neutral velTels navigating them, with fuch 
exceptions only as are annexed to it by the law of nations- She muft pro- 
duce then fuch an exception in the law of nation?, in favour of the right Ihe 
contends for. Bat in what wn'tten and received authority will fhe find it ? 
In what ufage except her own will it be found ? She will find in both, that a 
neutral veflcl does not proteft certain objeds denominated contraband of 
war, including enemies ferving in the war, nor ai tides going into a blockaded 
port, nor as fhe has maintained, and as we have not contefted, enemy's pro- 
perty of any kind. But no where will (lie find an exception to this tVccdom 
of the feas, and of neutral flags, which juftifies the taking away of any per- 
fon not an enemy, in military fervice, found on board a neutral vefTel. 

If treaties, Britiih as well as others, are to be confulted on this fubjedt, it 
W'ill equally appear, that no countenance to the practice caa be found in 



Vol. Ill, Appendix. £ 



J4 AMEKiCAN STATE TAPERS. 

them. Whilfl: they admit a contraband of war, by enumerating its articles, 
and the effect of a real blockade by defining it, in no inftarice do they affirm 
or imply a right in any fovereign to enforce his claims to the allegiance of 
his fubjects, on board neutral veffels on the high fcas. On the contrary, 
whenever a belligerent claim againft perfons on board a neutral vellel, is re- 
ferred to in treaties, enemies in military fervice alone are excepted from the 
general immunity of perfons in that fituation ; and this exception confirms 
the immunity of thofe who arc not included in it. 

It is not then from the law or the ufage of nations, nor from the tenor of 
treaties, that any fanftion can be derived for the practice in queftion. And 
fUrely it will not be pretended that the fovereignty of any nation extends, in 
any cafe whatever, beyond its own dominions, and its own vcflels on the high 
feas. Such a doftrin-e would give juft claim to all nations, and more than 
any thing would countenance the imputation of afpiring to an univerfal em- 
pire of the feas. It would be the lefs admidible too, as it would be applica- 
ble to times of peace, as well as to times of war, and to property as well as to 
perfons. If the law of allegiance, which is a municipal law, be in force at all on 
the high feas, on board foreign veffels, it muft be fo at all times there, as it is 
within its acknowledged fphere. If the reafon alleged for it be good in time 
of war, namely, that the fovereign has then a right to the fervice of all his 
fubjtds, it muft be good at all times, becaufe at all times, he has the fame 
right to their fervice. War is not the only occafion for which he may want 
their fervices, nor is external danger the only danger againft which their fer- 
vices may be required for his fecurity. Again ; if the authority of a muni- 
cipal law can operate on perfons in foreign veffels on the high feas, becaufe 
within the dominion of their fovereign, they would be fubjeft to that law, 
and are violating that law by being in that fituation, how rejeft the inference 
that the authority of a municipal h.\v may equally be enforced, on board for- 
eign veffels, on the high feas, againft articles of property exported in violatiort 
of fuch a law, or belonging to the country from which it was exported ? And 
thus every commercial regulation, in time of peace too, as well as of war, 
would be made obligatory on foreigners and their veflels, not only whilft 
within the dominion of the fovereign making the regulation, but in every fea, 
and at every diftance where an armed veflel might meet with them. Another 
inference deferves attention. If the iLibjedts of one fovereign may be taken 
by force from the veffels of another, on the high feas, the right of taking 
them when found, implies the right of fearchiiig for them ; a vexaticjn of 
commerce, efpecially in time of peace, which has not yet been attempted, 
and which for that as well as other reafons, may be regarded as contradidling 
the principle from which it would flow. 

Taking reafon and juftice for the tcfts of this pradice, it is peculiarly 
indefenfible ; becaufe it deprives the deareft rights of perfons of a regular 
trial, to which the moft inconfiderable article of property captured on the 
high feas is entitled ; and leaves their deftiny to the will of an officer, fomc- 
times cruel, often ignorant, and generally interefted by his want of mariners, 
in his own decihons. Whenever property found in a neutral veffcl is i'np- 
pofed to be liable on any grounds to capture and condemnation, the lule ia 
all cafes is that the queftion ffiall not be decided by the captor, but be carried 
before a legal tribunal, where a regular trial may be had, and where the 
captor himfelf is liable to damages, for an abufe of his power. Can it be 
reafonable then, or Juft, that a belligerent commander who is thus reltrid- 
ed, and thus refponfible ina cafe of mere property of trivial amount, fliould 
be permitted, without recurring to any tribunal whatever, to examine the 
crew of a neutral veflel, to decide the important queftion of their refpedtive 
allegiances, and to carry that decilion into inftant execution, by forcing every 
individual he may chufe, into a fervice abhorrent to his feelings, cutting him 
off from his iTioft tender connexions, expofing his mind and his perfon to the 
moft humiliating difcipline, aud his life itfcif tothegreateft dangers ? Reafon, 



AMKRICAX SJATE TAPERS. S5 

juftice, and humanity unite in protefting againft fo extravagant a proceeding. 
And what is tlic pretext for it ? It is that the funilarity of language and of 
features between American citizens and Britifh fubjeds, are fucli as not eafily 
to be dillinguiihcd ; and that without this arbitrary and fummary authority 
to make the diftindion, Britifh fiibjects would efcape, under the name of 
American citizens, from the duty which they owe to their fovereign. Is then 
the difficulty of diftinguifliing a mariner of one country from the mariner of 
the other, and the importance of hie fervices, a good plea for referring the 
queftion whether be belongs to the one or to the other, to an arbitrary deci- 
ijon on the the fpot, by an interefted and unrefponQble officer ? In all other 
cafes, the difficulty and the importance of quefiions are-confulercd as rcafons 
for requiring greater care and formality in inveftigating tlKm, and greater 
fecurity for a right decilion of them. To fay that precautions of this fort 
are incompatible with the objedt, is to admit that the objed isunjuftifiable ; 
iince the only means by which it can be purfued are fuch as cannot be 
juftified. 

The evil takes a deeper die, when viewed in its pr?.dice as well as its prin- 
ciples. Were it allowable that Britilh fubjeds Ihouid be taken out of Ameri- 
can vcfTels on the high feas, it might at leall be required that the proof of 
their allegiance fliould lie on the Britifh fide. This obvious and juft rule is, 
however, reverfed ; and every feaman on board, though going from an Ameii- 
can port, and failing under the American flag, and fometimes even fpeaking 
an idiom proving hi-m not to be a Britilh fubjed', is prcfumed to be fuch, unlefs \ 
lliewn to be an American citii^en. It may f.ifely be affirmed that this is an 
outrage and an indignity which has no precedent, and which Great Britain 
would be among the lalt nations in the world to fuffer, if offered to her own 
•fubjedts, and her own flag. Nor is it always againft the right prefumption 
alone which is in favour of the citizenihip correl^onding with the flag, that 
the violence is committed. Not uufrequently it takes place in defiance of 
the moft pofitive proof, certified in due form by an American officer. Let it 
not be faid, that, in granting to American feamen this protedion for their 
lights as fuch, the point is yielded, that the proof lies on the American. fide, 
and that the want of it in the prefcribed form juftifies the inference that the 
ieamen is not of American allegiance. It is diftindly to be underftood, that 
the certificate, ufually calkrd a protedion to American feamen, is not meant 
to protedt thenr. under their own, or even any other neutral flag on the high 
feas. We can never admit, that in Inch a fituation, any other protedion is 
required for them, than the neutral flag itfelf on the high fea?. The docu- 
ment is given to prove their real charader, in fituations to v.-hich neither the law 
of mtions, nor th-e lavv of their own country, are applicable ; in other vvordii, 
to proted them within the jurifdidion of the BritiOi laws, and to fecure to 
them, v.-ithin every other jurifdidion the lights antl Immunities due to 
them. If, in the courfe of their navigation even on the isigh feas, the docu- 
ment Ihould have the ettVd of repelling wrongs of any fbrt, it is an inciden- 
tal advantage only, of which they avail themfelves, and is by no means to be 
mifconflrued into a right to exad fuch a proof, or to make ar.y difadvanta- 
geous inference from the want ot it. 

Were it even admitted that certificates for protection mifht be juftly re- 
■quired in time of war from American feamen, they could only be rtquirtd 
in cafes where the lapfe of time from its commencement had given an oppor- 
tunity for the American feamen to provide themfelves vvith futh a docnment. 
Yet it iscc-rtain, that, in a variety of inAances, feamtn have been impixfled 
from American vcflels, on the plea that ihcy had not this pn^of of citizen- 
f!iip, when the dates and places of tht iifipreiTments demonftrated the im- 
p;:iii iiliiy of their knowing, in time to provide the proof, that a Uate of war 
had rendered it nectiTary. 

Wi^tther, thertf >re, we confuU the law of nations, the tenor of treaties, or 
the tiidates of jeafpn.and juftice, lio vvariant, liC pretext can be found for the 



36' AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

Britifli pradice of making impreiTmentsfrom American vefltls on the high feas. 
Great-Britain has the Icfs to fay in exciile for this pradlice, as it is in d\\t&. 
contradidion to the principles on which fhe proceeds in other cafes. Whilft 
fhe claims and feizes on the high feas, her own fubjtds, voluntarily ferving in 
American vefiels, fhe has conftantly given, when fhe could give, as a reafon 
for not difcharging from her fervice American citizens, that they had volun- 
tarily engaged in it. Nay, more, whilft fhe impielTes her own fubjedls from 
the American fervice, although they may have been fettled and married, and 
even naturalifed in the United States, file conftantly refufes to releafe from 
hev's, American citizens imprefTed into it, whenever fhe can give for a reafon, 
that they were either fettled or married within her dominions. Thus, when 
the voluntary confent of the individual favours her pretenlions, flie pleads the 
validity of that confent. When the voluntary confent of the individual ftaiids 
in the way of her pietenfions, it goes for nothing ! When marriage or refi- 
dence can be pleaded in her favour, fhe avails herfelf of the plea. When 
marriage and refuience, and even naturalization are againft her, no refpedt 
■whatever is paid to either ! She takes by force her own fubjeds, voluntarily 
ferving in our vtflcls ; fhe keeps by force American citizens, involuntarily 
ferving in hers. More flagrant inconfiftencies cannot be imagined. 

Notwithftanding the powerful m.otives which ought to be felt by the Britifh 
government to relinquifli a practice which expofes it to fo many reproaches, 
it is forefeen that objedions of different forts will be prefTed on you. You 
will be told firfl:, of the great number of Britifh feamen in the American trade, 
and of the iiecefTity for their ferviccs in time of war and danger. Secondly, 
of the right and the prejudice of the Britifli nation, with refped to what are 
called the Britifh or narrow feas, where its domain would be abandoned by 
the general ftipulation required. Thirdly, of the ufe which would be made 
of fuch a fandluary as that of American veffels, for defertions, and traitorous 
communications to her enemies, efpecially acrofs the channel to France. 

ift. With refpect to the Britifh feamen ferving in our trade, it may be re- 
marked, firfl, that the number, though confiderable, is probably lefs than may 
be fuppofed. Secondly, that what is wrong in itfelf cannot be made right by 
confiderations of expediency or advantage. Thirdly, that it is proved by the 
fadl, that the number of real Britilh fubjecfts gained by the praiftice in quef- 
tion, is of inconfiderable importance, even in the fcale of advantage. The 
annexed report to congrefs on the fubjeft of imprelfments, with the addition 
of fuch cafes as may be in the hands of Mr* Erving, will verify the remark 
in its application to the prefent war. The flatement made by his predeceffor 
during the laft war, and which is alfo annexed, is in the fame view ftill more 
conclufive. The flatement comprehends not only all the applications made 
by him in the firft inflance, for the liberation of imprefTed feamen, between 
the month of June, 1797, and September, 1801, but many alfo which had 
been made previous to this agency by Mr. Pinckney and Mr. King, and 
which it was necefTary for him to renew. Thefe applications therefore may 
fairly be confidered as embracing the greater part of the period of the war ; 
and as applications are known to be pretty indifcriminately made, they may 
further be confidered as embracing, if not the whole, the far greater part of 
the imprefi-ments, thofe of Britifh fubjects as well as others. Yet the refult 
exhibits 2,059 cafes only, and of this number 102. feamen only, detained as 
being Britilh fubjefts, which is lefs than i-2oth of the number imprefTed, and 
1,142 difcharged or ordered to be fo, as not being Britifh fubjefts, which is 
more than half of the whole number, leaving 805 for further proof, with the 
ftrongeft prefumption that the greater part, if not the whole, were Americans 
or other aliens, whofe proof of citizenfhip had been loft or deftroyed, or 
whofe fituation would account for the diflicuUies and delays in producing it. 
So that it is certain, that for all the Britifh feamen gained by this violent pro- 
ceeding, more thnn an equal number who were not fo were the victims ; it 
is highly probable that for every Britifli feaman fo gained, a number of oth- 



AMERICAN STATE PATEHS. 3T 

ers, lefs than lo for one, muft have been the vicflinns, and it is even pcdible 
that thifi number may have exceeded the proportion of 20 to one. 

It cannot therefore be doubted, that the acquifition of Britifh feamen by 
thefe imprelTments, whatever may be its advantage, is loft in the wrong dont 
to Americans ignorantiy or wilfully miftaken for Britifh fubjeds, in the jeal- 
oufy and ill-will excited among all maritime nations by an adherence to fuch 
a pradtice, and in the particular provocation to meafures of redrefs o"n the 
part of the United States, not lefs difagreeable to them, than embarraffing to 
Great-Britain, and which may threaten the good underftanding which ought 
to be faithfully cultivated by both. The copy of a bill brought into Con- 
grefs under the influence of violations committed on our flag, gives force to 
this latter confideration. Whether it will pafs into a law, and at the prefent 
feffion, is more than can yet be faid. As there is every reafon to believe that 
it has been propofed with reludance, it will probably not be piirfued into ef- 
fect, if any hope can be fupported of a remedy, by an amicable arrangement 
between the two nations. 

There is a further confideration which out to have weight in this queftion. 
Although the Britifli feamen employed in carrying on American commerce, 
be in fome refpedts loft to their own nation, yet fuch is the intimate and ex- 
tenfive cnnnedtion of this commerce, diredt and circuitous, with the com- 
merce, the manufadtuies, the revenue and the general rcfources of the Britifa 
nation, that in other refpe(5ts its mariners, on board American veflels, may 
truly be faid to be rendering it the moft valuable fervices. It would not be 
extravagant to make it a queftion, whether Great Britain would not fuffer 
more by withdrawing her feamen from the merchant veflels of the United 
States, than her enemies would fuifer from the addition of them to the crew» 
of her fhips of war and cniifers. 

Should any difficulty be ftarted concerning feamen born within the Britifli 
dominions, and naturalized by the United States fince the treaty of 1783, you 
may remove it by obferving : Firft, that very few, if any, fuch naturaliza- 
tions can take place, the law here requiring a preparatory refidence of five 
years, with notice of the intention to become a citizen entered of record two 
years before the laft ncceflary formality, bcfides a regular proof of good mor- 
al charadter, conilitions little likely to be copiplied with by ordinary fea-far* 
ing perfons. Secondly, that a discontinuance of imprcflhients on the high 
feas will preclude an adlual collifion between the interfering claims. Withia 
the jurifdi<5tion of each nation, and in their rcfpedlive veflels on the high feas, 
each will enforce the allegiance which it claim?. In other fituations the 
individuals doubly claimed, will be within a jurifdidtion independent of both 
nations. 

Secondly. The Britifh pretenfions to domain over the narrow feas are fo 
obfolete, and fo indefenfible, that they never would have occurred as a pro- 
bable objedion in this cafe, if they had not actually frnftrated an arrangement 
fettled by Mr. King with the Britifli miniltry on the fubjedt of impnliments 
from American veflels on the high feas. At the moment when the articles 
xvere expedted to be figned, an exception of the " narrow feas" was urged 
and inlifted on by lord St. Vincent ; and being utterly inadmiflible on our 
part, the negociation was abandoned. 

The objection in itfelf has certainly not the flighteft fonndatiou. The time 
has been, indeed, when England not only claimed, but exercifed pretenhone 
fcarcely infcriour to full iovereignty over the feas funonnding the Britifh 
jfltp, and even as far as Cape Finifterre to tke fouth, and Van Stalen, in Nor- 
way, to the north. It was a time, however, when reafnn had Httle fliare in 
determining the law, and the intercourfe of nations ; when power alone de- 
cided queftions of right, and, when the ignorance and want of concert 
among other maritime countries facilitated fuch an nfuipation. The progrefs 
of civilization and information has produced a change in all thofe refpedl:.s,'"and 
to priiiciple in the code cf publick law, is at preient better tft.-ibliihcd, than 



5^' AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

the common freedom of the feas beyond a very limited diftance from the 
territories wafhed by them. This diftance is not, indeed, fixed with abfoUitc 
precifion. It is varied in a fmali degree by wrritten authorities, and perhaps 
it may be reafonably varied in fume degree by local peculiarities. But the 
greateft diftance which would nov/ be liftened to any where, would make a 
fmall proportion of the narrowed part of the narrowed feas in queftion. 

What are, in faft, the prerogatives claimed and exercifed by Great Britain 
over thefe feas? If they were really a part of her domain, her authority 
would be the fame there as within her other domain. Foreign veflels would 
be fubjecft to all the laws and regulations framed for them, as much as if they 
■were within the harbours or rivers of the country. Nothing of this fort is 
pretended. Nothing of this fort would be tolerated. The only inftances in 
which thefe feas are diflinguiflied from other feas, or in which Great Britain 
enjoys within them, any diftindion over other nations, are, firft, the compli- 
ment paid by other flags to her*s. Secondly, the extenfion of her territorial 
jurifdidtion in certain cafes to the diftance of four leagues from the coaft. Th.e 
Brft is a relickof ancient ufurpation, which has thus long efcaped the correc- 
tion, which modem and more enlightened times have applied to other ufur- 
pations. The prerogative has been often contefted, however, even at the ex- 
penfe of bloody wars, and is ftill borne with ill will and impatience by her 
neighbours. At the laft treaty of peace at Amiens, the abolition of it was 
repeatedly and ftrongly prefTed by France ; and it is not improbable, that at 
no remote day it will follow the fate of the title of " King of France," fo 
long worn by the Britifli monarchs, and at length fo properly facrihced to 
the'lefTons of a magnanimous wifdom. As far as this homage to the Britifh 
flag has any foundation at prcfent, it refts merely on long ufage and long ac- 
quiefcence, which arc conftrued, as in a few other cafes of maritime claims, 
into the effcift of a general though tacit convention. The facond inftance is 
the extenfion of the territorial jurifdidtion to four leagues from the fhore. 
This too, as far as the diftance may exceed that which is generally allowed, 
refts on a like foundation, ftrengthened, perhaps, by the local facility of 
fmuggling, and the peculiar intereft which Great Britain has in preventing a 
practice affefting fo deeply her whole fyftem of revenue, commerce, and 
manufadures : whilft the hmitation itfelf to four leagues, neceffarily implies* 
that beyond that diftance no territorial jurifdidtion is afTumed. 

But whatever may be the origin or the value of thefe prerogatives over 
foreign flags in one cafe, and within a limited portion of thefe feas in another^ 
It is obvious that neither of them will be violated by the exemption of A- 
merican veflels from impreflments, which are no wife conneded with either ; 
having never been made on the pretext either of withholding the wonted 
homage to the Britilh flag, or of fmuggling in defiance of Britifli laws. ^ 

This extenfion of the Britifh law to four leagues from the fliore, is inferred 
from an aft of parliament pafled in the year 1736 (9 G. a c. 25) the terms of 
which comprehend all veflels foreign as well as Britin\. It is. pofiible. how- 
ever, that the former are conftruftively excepted. Should your inquiries af- 
certain this to be the cafe, you will find yourfelf 00 better ground, than the 
conceflion liere made. 

With refpeft to the compliment paid to the Britifli fiag, it is alfo poflible 
that more is here conceded than you may find to be nece:flary. After the 
peace of 1783 this compliment was peremptorily withheld by France, ia 
fpite of the remonftrances of Great Britain ; and it remains for your inquiry, 
whether it did not continue to be refufed, notwithftanding the failure at 
Amiens to obtain from Great Britain a formal renunciation of the claim. 

From every view of the fubjeft, it is reafonable to expefl: that the exception 
of the narrow feas, from the ftipulation againft imprejOTiKents, will not be in- 
flexibly maintained. Should it be fo, your negotiation will be at an end. 
The truth i^^, that fo great a proportion of our trade, direct and circuitous, paff- 
es through thofc chaanels, and fuch is its peculiar expofure in them to tlie 



AMERICA.'* STATE PAPF-KS. 39 

xvrong praiftifcd, that with fuch an exception, any remedy wouUI he very par- 
tial. And we can never confent to purchafe a partial rcmtdy, by con6rming 
a general evil, and by fubjedting ourfelves to oar ow n reproaches, as well a* 
to thofe of other nations. 

Third, It appears, as well by a letter from Mr. Thorntorn, in anfwer to 
one from me, of both which copies are enclofed, as from convnfations with 
Mr. Merry, that the facility which would be given, particularly in the Britifli 
channel, by the immunity claimed for American veffels, to the efcape of trai- 
tors, and the dcfertion of others whofe fervices in the time of war may be 
particularly important to an enemy, forms one of the pleas for the Britifli 
pradice of examining American crews, and will be one of the objections to 
a formal rclinquifhment of it. 

This plea, like all others, admits a folid and fatisfaftory reply. In the 
firft place, if it could prevail at all againfl: the neutral claim, it would author- 
ize the lei/.ure of the perfons defcribed only, and in veffels bound to a hoflile 
country only ; whereas the pradice of imprefling is applied to perfons, few 
or any of whom are alleged to be of either defcription, and to vefTeis 
whitherfoever bound, even to Great Britain herfelf. In the next place, it is 
not only a preference of a fmaller objeft on one fide to a greater objcd: on 
the other ; but a facrifice of right on one fide to expediency on the other fide. 



MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, COMMUN'I- 
CATING DISCOVERIES MADE IN EXPLORING THE MISSOURI, RED RIV- 
ER, AND WASHITA, BY CAPTAINS LEWIS AND CLARK, DR. SIBLEY, 
AND MR. DUNBAR, WITH A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE CaUN- 
TRIES ADJACENT. 

To the Senate and Houfe of lleprefen' 
tatlves of the United States. 
IN purfuance of a meafure propofed to Congrefs by a mcfTage of January 
18th, i8o,^,and fandtioned by their appropriation for carrying it into execu- 
tion, captain Meriwether Lewis, of the firft regiment of infantry, was ap- 
pointed, with a party of men, to explore the river Miffburi, from its mouth 
to its fource, and, croflTing the highlands by the Ihorteft portage, to fetk the 
beft water communication thence to the Pacific ocean ; and lieutenant Clarke 
was appointed fecond in command. They were to enter into conference 
with the Indian nations on their route, with a view to the eft.ibliflimtnt of 
commerce with them. They entered the Miffburi, May i4ih, 1804, and on 
the firft of November took up their winter quarters near the M.indan towns, 
1609 miles above the mouth of the river, in latitude 47 deg. 21 min. 47 fee, 
north, and longitude 99 deg. 24 min. 45 fee. weft from Greenwich. On the 
8th of April, 1805, they proceeded up the river in purfuance of tlie objects 
prefcribed to them. A letter of the preceding day, April 7, fioin captain 
Lewis, is herewith communicated. During his ftay among the Mandans, he 
had been able to lay down the MifTouri, according to courfcs and diftances 
taken on his paffage up it, corredted by frequer:t obfervations of longitude 
ami latitude ; and to add to the adual fiirvt-y of this portion of the river, a 
general map of the country between the MifTifippi and Pacific, from the 3 4 '.It 
to the 54th degrees of latitude. Thefe additions are from information c;>l- 
lected from Indians with whom he had opportunities of communicating, dr.r- 
ing his journey and refidence with them. Copies of this map arc now pie- 
fented to both houfes of Congrefs. With thefe I communicate alfo a ft.itiAi- 
cal view, procured and forwarded by him, of the Indian nations inhabiting 
the territory of Louifiana, and the countries adjacent to its northern and vvtft- 
ern borders ; of their commerce, and of other intercftin^ circur.ift.incee rcf' 
peding them. 



■40 AMERICAN STATE PArEllS. 

In order to render the ft.itement as complete as may be, of the Indians 
inhabiting the country weft of the Miffifippi, I add dod:or Sibley's account 
of thoferefiding in and adjacent to the territory of Orleans. 

I communicate alfo, from the fame perfon, an account of the Red river, 
according to the belt information he had been able to colledt. 

Having been difappointed, after confiderable preparation, in the purpofe of 
fending an exploring party up that river, in the fummer of 1804, it was 
thought beft to employ the autumn of that year in procuring a knowledge of 
an interefting branch of the river called the Wafliita. This was undertaken 
under the diredion of Mr, Dunbar, of Natchez, a citizen of diftinguiflicd 
fcience, who had aided, and continues to aid us, with his difinterefted and 
valuable fervices in the profecution of thefe enterprizes. He afcended the 
river to the remarkable hot fprings near it, in latitude 34 deg. ;^i min. 4 fee. 
16, longitude 92 deg. 50 min. 45 fee. weft from Greenwich, taking its courfes 
and diftances, and correding them by frequent celeftial obfervations. Kx- 
tradts from his obfervations, and copies of his map of the river, from its 
mouth to the hot fpiings, make part of the prefent communications. The 
examination of the Red river itfelf is but now commencing. 

TH: JEFFERSON. 
February, 19, 1806. 



Extras of a letter from Captain Meriwether Lewis to the Prefident of the 
United States, dated 

Fort Man dan, Jpril, iTth, 1805. 
Dear Sir, 

Herewith enclofed you will receive an invoice of certain articles, which 
I have forwarded to you from this place. Among other articles you will ob- 
ferve, by reference to the invoice, 67 fpecimcns of earths, falts, and minerals, 
and 60 ipecimensof plants ; thefe arc accompanied by their refpedive labels, 
exprefll ng the days on which obtained, places where found, and alfo their 
virtues and properties, when known. By means of thefe labels, reference 
may be made to the chart of the MifTouri, forwarded to the fecretary of war, 
on which the encampment of each day has been carefully marked : thus the 
places at which thefe fpecimens have been obtained, may be eafi'y pointed 
out, or again found, fliould any of them prove valuable to the community 
on further inveftigation. 

You will alfo receive herewith enclofed, a part of capt. Clarke's private 
journal ; the other part you will find enclofed in a feparate tin box. This 
journal will ferve to give you the daily details of our progrefs and tranfac- 
tions. 

I fhall difpatch a canoe with three perhaps four perfons from the extreme 
navigable point of the Miflburi, or the portage between this river and the 
Columbia river, as either may firft happen. By the return of this canoe, I 
fhall fend you my journal, and fome one or two of the beft of thofe kept by 
my men. I have fent a journal kept by one of the fcrgeants, to captain Stod- 
dard, my agent at St.Louis, in order as much as poffible to multiply the chan- 
ces of faving fomething. We have encouraged our men to keep journals, 
and feven of them do, to whom in this refpedl: we give every affiftance in our 
power. 

I have tranfmitted to the fecretary at war every information relative to 
the geography of the country which we pofTefs, together with a view of the 
Indian nations, containing information relative to them, on thofe points with 
which I conceived it important that the government fliould be informed. 

By reference to the mufter rolls forwarded to the war department, you will 
fee the ftate of the party ; in addition to which we have two interpreters, one 
negro man, fervant to capt. Clarke ; one Indian woman, wife to one of the 
interpreters, and a Mandan man, vchom we take with a view to reftore peaee 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 41 

between the Snake Indians, and those in this neig-Iiborhood, amountino; in to- 
tal with ourselves lo 33 persons. By means of the interpreters and Indians, 
we shall be enabled to converse with all the Indians that we shall probably 
meet with cm the Missouri. 

I have forwarded to the secretary at war my public accounts, rendered up 
to the present day. They have been much longer delayed than I had any 
idea they would have been, when we departed from the Illinois ; but this de- 
lay, under the circumstances which I was compelled to act, has been unavoidr 
akle. The provision peroque and her crew, could not have been dismissed ii\ 
time to have returned to St. Louis last fall, without evidently, in my opinion, 
hazarding the fate of the enterprize in which 1 atn engaged ; and I therefore 
did not hesitate to prefer the censure that I may have incurred by the deten- 
tion of these papers, to that of risking in any degree the success of the expe- 
dition. To me the detention of ihese papers has formed a serious source of 
disquiet and anxiety ; and the recollection of your particular charge to me on 
this subject, has made it stiil more poignant. I am fully aware of the incon- 
Tenience whieh must have arisen to the war department, from the want of 
these voucher?, previous to the list session of congress, but how tb avert it 
was out of my power to devise. 

From this place we shall send the barge and crew early to-morrow morning-, 
with orders to proceed as expeditiously a... possible to St. Louis ; by her we 
send our dispatches, wiuch I trust will get safe to hand. Her crew consists 
of ten able bodied men, well armed and provided with a sufficient stock of 
provision to last them to St. Louis. I have but little doubt but thev will be 
fired on by the Siouxs ; but they have pledged themselves to us that they will 
not yield while there is a. man of them living. Our baggage is all embarked on 
board six small canoes, and two peroques ; we shall set out at the same mo- 
ment that we dispatch the barge. One, or perhaps both of these peroques, we 
shall leave at the falls of the Missouri, from whence we intend continuing our 
voyage in the canoes, and a peroque of skins, the frame of which was prepar- 
ed at Harper's ferry. This peroque is now in a situation which will enable us 
to prepare it in the course of a few hours. As our vessels are now small, and 
the current of the river much more moderate, we calculate upon travelfing at 
the rate of 20 or 25 miles per day, as far as the falls of the Missouri. Beyond 
this point, or the first rasge of rocky mountains, situated about 100 miles 
further, any calculation with respect to our daily progress, can be little more 
than bare conjecture. The circumstance of the Snake Indians possessine 
large quantities of horses, is much in our favour, as by means of liorses the 
transportation of our baggage will be rendered easy and expeditious over land, 
from the Missouri to the Columbia river. Should this river not prove naviga- 
ble where we first meet with it, our present intention is, to continue our march 
by land down the river, until it becomes so, or to the Pacific ocean. The 
map, which has been forwarded to the secretary of war, will give vou the idea 
we entertain of the connection of these rivers, which has been formed from 
the corresponding testimony of a number of Indians, who have visited that 
country, and who have been separately and carefully examined on that subject, 
and we therefore think it entitled to some degree of confidence. Since cur 
arrival at this place, we have subsisted principally on meat, with which our 
guns have supplied us amply, and have thus been enabled to reserve the 
parched meal, portable soup, and a considerable proportion of pork and flour, 
which we had intended for the more difficult parts of our voyage. If Indian 
information can be credited, the vast quantity of game with which the country 
abounds through which we aie to pass, leaves us but little to apprehend from 
the want of food. 

We do not calculate on completing our voyage within the present year, 
but expect to reach the Pacific ocean, and return as far as the iiead of the 
Missouri, or perhaps to this place, before winter. You may therefore expect 
me to meet you at Monticello in September, 1806. On our return we shall 
probably pass down the Yellow Stone river, which, from Indian information, 
waters one of the fairest portions of this continent. 

Vol. III.. Appendix. P 



•i* AIIERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

I can see no material or probable obstruction to our progress, and enterta/i-., 
therefore, the most sanguine hopes of complete success. As to myself, in- 
dividually, 1 never enjoyed a more perfect state of g^ood hcaUh than I have 
since we commenced our voyage. My inestimable Vriei.d and companion, cap- 
tain Clarke, has tilsu enjoyed g-ood health generally. At this n.oment every 
mdiviaual of the parly IS in good health and excellent spirits, zealously at- 
tached to tlie enlerpnze, and anxious to proeeert ; not a whi.'.pcr of discontent 
or nuirmur is to be hearci among them ; but aH in unison act with the most 
perfect harmony. With such men 1 have every thing to hope, and but little 
to fear. 

Be so good as to present my most affectionate regard to all my friends, anjcl 
be assured of the sincere and unalterable attachment of 

Your most obedient servant, 

MERIWETHER LEWIS, 

Capt. of lit U i>. ttgitnent of i:ifaKtrj'. 
Th : Jefferson, 

Frenident of the Unittd States. 



We very much r^grrf^ that it is not i?i our Jwiver to insert the communi- 
. cation from C'a/itai}7.i Lei^'is ts* Clark ; it is extremely long and i'i 
quite as UTiinteliig-ible ivithout the asaistance of a mafi : besides it wouLi 
be very Jinintercsting to uhnost every reader, and therefore me shall 
proceed to the doC7i?fitntftfro?n Dr. SiBLET and Mr.DuNUAR., ivkich are 
.mentioned in the President's message. These may gratify a variety of 
readers., besides the student of geography., and may assizt the makers of 
jna/ia in correcting the boimdarits^ divisions, tfc, of the province of 
Loidsiana, 

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE SEVEKAI, INDIAN TIIIBES IN LOUISIANA, 
SOUTH OF THE ARKANSA KIVER, AND BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI AND 
RIVER GRAND. 

CADDOQUES, live about 35 miles west of the main branch of Red river, 
on a bayau or creek, called by them Sodo, which u navigable for peroqMes 
only within about six miles of their village, and that only in the rainy season. 
They are distant fi'oni Natchitoches about 120 miles, the nearest route by 
land, and in nearly a iwnh west direction. They liave livtd where they now do 
only live years. The first year they moved there the small pox got amongst 
lliem and destroyed nearly one half of them ; it was in the winter season, 
and they practised plunging into the creek on the first appearance of the erup- 
tion, and died in a few hours. Two years ago they hud the measles, of which 
several more of them died. They formerly hved on the south bank of the 
river, by the course of the river 3~5 miles higher up, at a beautiful prairie, 
which has a clear lake of good water in the middle of it, surrounded by a 
pleasant and fertile country, whiseh had been the residence of their ancestors 
from time immemorial. 

They have a traditionary tale which not only the Caddos, but half a dozen 
other smaller nations believe in, who c'aim the honour of being descendants of 
the same family : they say, when all the world was drowned by a flood that 
"inundated the whole country, the great spirit placed on an eminence, near this 
lake, one family of Caddoques, who alone were saved ; irom that family all the 
Indians originated. 

The French, for many years before Louisiana was transferred to Spain, had, 
at this place, a fort and some soldiers ; several French families were likewise 
settled in the vicinity, where they h.ad erected a good flour mill vvith burr 
sio'.ies broueht from France. These French families continued theyc till about 



AMKnlCAlv STATE PAVT.nS 4S 

55 years ngr), «licn (hey moved down and settled at CaiTipti, on tlie Red river, 
about 20 miles above Niitcliitoches, wliere tlie\- now live ; and tlie Indians left 
it about 14 years ago, on account of a dreadful sickness that visited them. 
They settled on thv river nearly opposite where tliey now live, on a low place, 
but were driven thence ot^ account of its overflowing', occasioned by a jam of 
limber choakin;^ liic ri^(■r at a jioint below them. 

The whole number, of wliat tliey call warriors of the ancient Caddo nation, is 
now reduced to about 100, who are looked upon somew !)at like knights o' Mal- 
ta, or some distinguished military order. They are brave, despise danger oi- 
death, and boast that they ha\^> never shed white man's blood. Besides these, 
there are of old men and strangers wlio live amongst them, nearly the same 
number, but there are 40 or 50 more women than men. This nation has great 
influence over the Yattassees, Nandakoes, Nabadaches, Inies or Yaciiies, Na- 
gogdoches, Keychies, Adaize and Natchitoches, who all speak the Ca<ldo Ian. 
guage, look up to them as their fathers, visit and intermarry among them, and 
join them in aM iheir wars. 

The Caddoques complain of the Choct.aws encroaching upon their country -, 
call them lazy, thievish, &c. Thei'« has been a misunderstanding between 
Ihem for several years, and small hunting parties kill one another when they 
meet. 

The Caddos raise corn, beans, pumpkins, Lc but the land on which they 
now live is prairie, of a white clay soil, very flat : their crops are subject to 
injury either by too wet or too dry a season. Thev have horses, but few of a- 
ny other domestic animal, except dogs; most of them have guns and some 
have rifles : they and all the other Indians that we ha^ e any knowl'cdge of, 
are at war with the Osages. 

The country, generally, roimd the Caddos is hilly, not very rich ; growth a 
mixture of oak, hickory and pine, interspersed with prairies, which are very 
rich generally, and fit for cultivation. There are creeks and springs of good 
water frequent. 

YATTASSEES, live on Bayau Pierre, (or stony creek) which falls into 
Red river, western division, abwut 50 miles above Natchitociies. Their vil- 
lage is in a large prairie about halfway between the Caddoques and Natchito. 
ches, surrounded by a settlement of French families. The Spanish govern- 
ment, at present, exercise jurisdiction over this settlement, whei'e they keep a 
guard of a non-commissioned officer and eight soldiers. 

A few months ago, the Caddo chief with a few of his young men were com- 
ing to this place to trade, and came that way which is the usual road. The 
Spanish officer of the guard threatened to stop them from trading with the 
Americans, and told the chief if he returned that way with the goods he 
should take them from him : The cliief and his party were very angry, and 
threatened to kill the whole guard, and told them that that road had been al- 
ways theirs, and that if the Spaniards attempted to prevent their using it as 
their ancestors had always done, he would soon make it a bloody road. He 
came here, purchased the goods he wanted, and might have returned another 
way and avoided the Spanish guard, and was advised to do so ; but he saia 
he would pass by them, and let them attempt to stop him if they dared. Th« 
guard said nothing- to him as he returned. 

This settlement, till some few } ears ago, used to belong to the district of 
Natchitoches, and the rights to their lands given by the government of Louis- 
iana, before it was ceded to Spain. Its now being under the government of 
Taxus, was only an agreement between the commandan*^, of Natchitoches and 
the commandant of Nagogdoches. The French formerly had a station and 
factory there, and another on the Sabine river, nearly one hundred miles north 
west from the Bayau Pierre settlement. The Yattassees now say the French, 
used to be their people and now the Americans. 

But ot the ancient Yattassees there are but eight men remaining,and twen- 
ty-five women, besides children ; but a number of men of other nations have 
intermarried with them and live together. I paid a visit at their village last 
summer; there were about forty men of them altogether: their original lan- 
guage dlfier.s from any otlier ; but now, all speak Caddo. They live on rich. 



44 AMERICAN STATU PAFElli. 

land, raise plenty of corn, beans, pumpkins, tobacco, &(.. have lia!:;ci.-:, cattle,, 
hogs and poultry. 

NANDAKOES, live on the Sabine river, 60 or 70 miles to the west- 
ward of the Yattassees, near where the French formerly had a staiion and fac 
tory. Their language is Csddo : about forty men only of them remaining'. A 
few years ago they suffered very much by the small p)o'x. They consider them- 
selves the same as Caddos, with whom they intermarry, and are, occasionally, 
visiting one another in the greatest harmony : have the same maiiners, cus- 
toms and attachments. 

AD AIZE, live about 40 miles from Natchitoches, below the Yattassees, on 
a lake called Lac Macdon, which communicates vi'ith the division of Red river 
that passes by Bayau Pierre. Tiiey liv e at or near where their ancestors have 
lived from time immemorial. They being- the nearest nation to the old Span- 
ish fort, or Mission of Adaize, that place was named after them, being about 
20 miles from them, to the south. There are now about 20 men of them re- 
maining, but more v/omen. Their language differs from all other, and is so 
difficult to speak or understand, that no nation can speak ten words of it ; but 
they all speak Caddo, and most of them French, to whom they were always 
attached, and joined them against the Natchez Indians. After the massacre 
of Natchez, in 1798, while the Spaniards occupied the post of Adaize, their 
priests took much pains to proselyte these Indians to tlie Roman Catholic re- 
ligion, but, I am informed, were totally unsuccessful 

ALICHE (commonly pronounced Eyeish) live near Nacogdoches, but are 
almost extinct, as a nation, not being more than 25 souls of them remaining ; 
four years ago the small pox destroyed the greater part of thetn. They were, 
some years ago, a considerable nation, and lived On a bayau which bears then- 
name, which the road from Natchitoch to Nacogdoches crosses, about 12 miles 
west of Sabine river, on which a few French and American families are set- 
tled. Their native language is spoken by no other nation, but they speak and 
understand Caddo, with whom they are in amity, often visiting one another. 

KEYES, or KEYCHIES, live on the east bank of Trinity river, a small 
distance above where the road from Natchitoches to St. Antoine crosses it. 
There are of them 60 men : have their peculiar native language, but mostly now 
speak Caddo ; mtermarry with them, and live together in much harmony, for- 
merly having lived near them, on the head waters of the Sabine. They plant 
corn and some other vegetables. 

lNIES,or TACHIES (called indifferently by both names.) From the lat- 
ter name the name of the province of Tachus or Taxus is derived. The Inies 
live about 25 miles west of Natchitoches, on a small river a branch of Sabine, 
called the Naches. They are, like all their neighbors, diminishing ; but 
have now 80 men. Their ancestors, for a long time, lived where they now 
do. Their language the same as that of the Caddos, with whom they are iti 
great amity. These Indians have a good character, live on excellent land, 
and raise corn to sell. 

NABEDACHES, live on the west side of tlie same river, about fifteen 
miles above them ; have about the same number of men ; speak the same lan- 
guage ; live on the best of land ; raise corn in plenty ; have the same man- 
ners, customs and attachments. 

BEDIES, are on the Trinity river, about 60 miles to the southward of 
Nacogdoches ; have 100 men ; are good hunters for deer, which are very large 
and plenty about them ; plant, and make good crops of corn ; language differs 
from all other, but speak Caddo ; are a peaceable, quiet people, and have an 
excellent character for their honesty and punctuality. 

ACCOKESAWS. Their ancient town and principal place of residence is 
on the west side of Colerado or Rio Rouge, about 200 miles south west of 
Nacogdoches, but often change their place of residence for a season; being 
near the bay make great use of fish, oysters, &.c. kill a great many deer, 
which are the largest and fattest in the province ; and their country is univer- 
sally said to be inferior to no part of the province in soil, growth of timber, 
goodness of water, and beauty of surface ; have a language peculiar to them- 
selves, but liivvc a mode of communication by dumb ligns, which they all un. 



AMT-KICAN STATE PAPET.S, 4^ 

deratand ; number about 80 wen. 30 oi 40 years ago die Spaniards had a, 
mission here, but brohe it up, or moved it to ITacogdoches. They talk of re- 
Settlinpf it, and speulc ia the highest terms oi the country. 

MAYES, live on a. large creek called St. Gabriel, on the bay of St. Bernard, 
ncHf the mouth of Gaudaloupe river : are estimated at 200 men/ never at 
peace with the Spaniard.?, towards whom they are said to possess a fixed ha- 
ired, but profess great friendsliip for the French, to whom they have been 
strongly attacked since Mons. d« Salle landed in their neighborhood. The 
place where there is a talk of the Spaniards opening a new port, and making 
a settlement, is near them ; where the party, with ihe governor of St. Antoine, 
who were there last fall to examine it, say they found the remains of a French 
blockhouse; some of the camion now at Labahie are said to have been 
brought from that place, and known by the engravings now to be seen on 
them. 

The French speak highly of tliese Indians for their extreme kindness and 
hospitality to all Frenchmen who have been amongst them : have a languag-e 
of their own, but speak Attakapa, which is the language of their neiglibc:':; 
the Carankouas ; vhey have likewise a way of conversing by signs. 

C ARANK.OUAS, live on an island, or peninsula, in the bay of St. Bernard, 
in leiiglh about ten miles, and five in breadth; the soil is extremely rich and 
pleasant; on one side of which there is a higli bluff, or mountain of coal, 
which has been on fire for many years, attbrding always a light at night, and 
a strong, thick smoke by day, by which vessels are sometimes deceived 
and lost on the shoaly coast, which shoals are said to extend nearly out of 
sight of land. From this burning coal there is emitted a gummy substance 
the Spainards call c/teta, which is thrown on the shore by the surf, and collect- 
by them in considerable quantities, which they are fund of chewing ; it has 
tlie appearance and consistence of pitch, of a strong, aromatic, and not disa- 
greeable smell. These Indians are irreconcileable enemies to the Spaniards, 
always at war witli them, and kill them whenever they can. The Spaniards 
call them cannibals', but the French give them a diflerent character, who have 
always been treated kindly by them since Mons dc. Salle and his party were 
in their neighborhood. They are said to be 500 men strong, but I have not 
been able to estimate their numbers from any very accurate information ; in 
» short time expect to be well informed. They speak the Attakapa language ; 
are friendly and kind to all other Indians, and, I presume, are much like all 
others, notwithstanding what the Spaniards eay cfthem, for nature is every 
where the tame. 

Last summer an old Spaniard came to me from Labahie, a iourney ofa- 
bout 500 miles, to have a barbed arrow taken out of his shoulder, that one of 
the«e Indians had shot in it. I found it under his shoulder-blade, near nine 
inches, and had to cut a new place to get at the poiat of it, in order to get 
it out the contrary way from that in which it bad entered : it was made of a 
piece of an iron hoop, with wings like a fluke and an inche. 

CANCES, are a very numerous nation, consisting of a great many differ- 
ent tribes, occupying different parts of the country, from the bay of .St. Ber- 
nard, cross river Grand, towards La Vera Cruz. They are not friendly to 
the Spaniards, and generally kill them when they have an opportunity. They 
are attached to the French ; are good hunters, principally using the bow. 
They are very particular in their dress, which is made of neatly dressed leath- 
er ; the women wear a long loose robe, resembling tliat of a Franciscan friar- ; 
nothing but their heads and feet are to be seen. The dress of the men is 
straight leather leggings, resembling pantaloons, and a leather hunting shirt or 
frock. No estim.ate can be made of their number. 

Thirty or forty years ago the Spaniards used to make slaves of them when 
they could take them ; a cnnsideraole number of them were brought to Nat- 
chitoches and sold to the French inhabitants at 40 or 50 dollars a head, and a 
number of them are still living here, but are now free. About 20 years ago 
an order came from the king of Spain that no more Indians should be made 
slaves, and those that were enslaved should be emancipated ; after which 
some of tb« women who had been scivants in good families, and taught spin- 



TiJng, sevvin,^, he. as well as managing- houseliold affairs, married niaitifls oY 
the country, and became res;iectable, well behaved women, and have now 
growing- up decent families of children : have a languag-e peculiar to them- 
selves, and are understood by signs, by all others. They are in amity with all 
other Indians except the Hietans. 

TANKAWAYS (or TANKS, as the French call them) have no land, nor 
claim the exclusive right to an} , nor have any particular place of abode, but 
are aiWays moving, alternately occupying the country watered by the Trinity, 
Braces, and Colerado, towards Si. a F£. Resemble, in their dress, the Cancex 
and Hietans, but all in one horde or tribe. Their number of men is estimated 
at about 209 ; are good hunters ; kill buffaloe and deer with tlie bow ; have 
llie best breed of horses ; are alternately friends and enemies of the Spaniards. 
J\n old trader lately informed me that he had received 5000 deer skins from 
them in one year, exclusive of tallow, rugs and tongues. They plant nothmg, 
but live upon wild fruits and flesh : are strong, athletic people, and excellent 
horsemen. 

T AWAKENOES, or THREE CANES. They are called by both names 
indifierently ; live on tlie west side of the Braces, but are ofteti, for some 
months at a tin.e, lower down than their usual place of residence, in the great 
prairie at the Tortuga, or Turtle, called so from its being a hill in the prairie, 
which at a distance appears in the form of a turtle, upon which there are some 
remarkable K])rings of water. Their usual residence is about 200 miles to the 
westward of Nacogdoches, towards St. a Fe. They are estimated at 200 men : 
are good hvmters ; have guns, but hunt principally with the bow : are supplied 
with goods from Nacogdoches, and pay for them in rugs, tongues, tallow and 
skins. They speak the same language of the Pani.s, or Tovviaches, and pre- 
tend to have descended from the same ancestors. 

PANIS, or TOWI ACHES. The French call them Panis, and the Span, 
iards Towiaches : the latter is the proper Indian name. They live on th« 
soutl»,bank of Red Riv«r ; by the course of the river upw^ards of 800 miles 
above Natchitoches, and by land, by the nearest path, is estimated at about 
3i0. Thev have t\yo towns near together ; the lower town, where the chief 
lives, is called Nlteheta, and the other is called Towaahach. They call their 
present chief the Great Bear. They are at war w ith the Spaniards, but friend- 
ly to those French and American hunters who have lately been among them. 
Tlicy are likewise at war with the Osages, as are every other nation. For 
many hundreds of miles round them, the country is rich prairie, covered with 
luxuriai)t grass, which is green summer and winter, with skirts of wood on the 
river br.nk, by the springs and creeks. 

They hi^vc many horses and mules. They raise more corn, pumpkins, 
beans, and tobacco, than tiicy want ior their own consumption ; the surplusage 
they exchange with the Hietans for buffaloe rugs, hcses and mules : the pump- 
kins they cut round in their shreads, and when it is in a state of dryness that it is 
so tough it will not break, but bend, they plait and work it into large mats, in 
which state they sell it to the Hietans, who, as they travel, cutoff and eat it as 
they w-ant it. Their tobacco they manufacture and cut as tine as tea, which is 
put into leather bars of a certain size, and is likewise an article of trade. They 
have but few guns, and very little ammunition ; what they have they keep for 
war, and h.unt with ihe bow. Their meat is principally buHialoe ; seldom kill 
'A deer, though they are^o plenty they come into their villages, and about their 
houses, like a domestic animal : elk, bear, wolves, antelope and wild hogs are 
likewise plenty in tl.eir countr}', and while rabbits, or hares, as well as the 
common rabbit : white bears sometimes come down amongst them, and 
wohes of all colours. Thie men generally go entirely naked, and the 
women nearly so, only wearing a small flap of a piece of a skin.— — 
They have a number of Spaniards amongst them, of fair complexion, taken 
fron^ the settlcnuf-ni of St. a Fe when they were children, who live as they do, 
and have no knowledge of where they came from. Their language differs 
irom tliat of any other nation, the Tawakenoes excepted. Their present num- 
ber of men is estimated at about 409. A great number of them, four yeatt 
i'go, were ?wept ofTby the ?mall p'^x. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 4< 

HIETANS, or ComancJies, who are likewise called by both names, have no 
fixed phice of residence ; have neither towns nor Tillages ; divided into so ma- 
ny hordes or tribes, lliat they have scarcely any knowledge of one another. 
No estimate of their numbers can well be made. They never remain in the 
same place more tlian a few da\s, but follow the buH'aloe, the flesh of which is 
their principal food. Some of tliem occasioiiaily purchase of the Pani.s, corn, 
beans and pumpkins ; but they are so nvunerous, any (juaiitity of these articles 
the Panis arc able to supply them with, must make but a smull proportion of 
their food. They have tents made of neatly dressed skin?, fasiiioned in form of 
a conc-,sufjicienlU' roomy for a family often or twelve persons ; tliose of the 
chiefs will contain occasionally 50 or tM) pei'sons. When they stop, their tents 
are pitclied in very e.xact order, soas to iiirmreg-iilar streets and squares, which 
in a few minutes has the appeal am e of a town, raised, as it were, by inchant- 
iiient ; and tliey are equally de.iterous in striking- tlitir tents and preparing- for 
a march when the sig-nal is given ; to every tent two horses or mules are allotted, 
one to carry the tent, and another the poles or sticK.s, whicji are neatly made of 
red cedar ; they all travel on horseback. Their horses they never turn loose 
to graze, but always keep them tied with a long cabras or halter ; and every 
tw o or lliree days they are obhgetl to move on account of all the grass near 
them being eaten up, they have such numbers of horses. They are good 
horsemen and have good horses, nwst of w hich are bred by themselves, and 
being- accustomed from when very young to be handled, they are remarkably 
docile and gentle. They sometimes catch wild horses, which are every where 
amongst them in immense droves. They hunt down the bullaloe on horse- 
back, and kill them either with the bow or a siiarp stick like a spear, which 
they carry in their hands. They are generally at war with the Spaniards, of- 
ten committing depredations upon the inhabitants of St. a Fe and St. Antoine ; 
but have always been friendly and civil to any French or Americans who have 
been amongst them. They are strong and athletic, and the elderly men as fat 
as though they had lived upon English beef and porter. 

It is said the man who kills a bufl'aloe, catches the blood and drinks it while 
warm ; they likewise eat the liver raw, before it is cold, and use the gaul by 
way of sauce. They are, for savages, uncommonly cleanly in their persons : 
the dress of the women is a loner, loose robe, that reaches from their chin to the 
ground, tied round with a fancy sash, or girdle, all made ofneafly dressed 
leather, on wiiich they paint figures of different colours and significations : the 
dress of the men is, close leather pantaloons, and a hunting shirt or frock of 
the same. They never remain long enough in the same place to plant any 
thing : the small Cayenne pepper grows spontaneously in the country, with 
which, and some wild jierbs and fruits, particularly a bean that grows m great 
plenty on a small tree resembling a willow, called maskcto, the women cook 
their buflaloe beef in a manner that would be grateful to an English squire. 
They alternately occupy the immense space of country from the Trinity and 
Braces, crossing the Red rirer, to the heads of Arkansa and Missouri, to river 
Grand, and beyond it, about St. a F^, and over the dividing ridge on the wa- 
ters of the Western ocean, where they say they have seen large peroques, 
with masts to them ; in describing whicii, tiiey make a drawing of a ship, 
with all its sails and rigging ; and they describe a place where they have seen 
vessels ascending a riv«^r, over which svas a draw bridge that opened to give 
them a passage. Theirnative language of sounds diflers from the language 
of any other nation, and none can either speak or understand it ; but they 
have a language by signs that all Indians understand, and by w'hich they con- 
verse much among themselves. They have a number of Spanish men and 
women among them, who are slaves, and who they made prisoners when 
young. 

An elderly gentleman now living at Natchitoches, -who, some years ago, 
•arried on a trade with the Hietans, a few days ago related to me the follow- 
ing story : 

About 20 years ago a party of these Indians passed over the river Grand to 
Chewawa, the residence of the governor-general of what is called the five in- 
ternal province? : lay in ambush for an opportunity, and made prisoner the gov . 



48 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

ernor's davig-hter, a young lady, g'oing in her coach to mass, and bnniglit her 
ofi". The g-overnor sent a messag-e to him (my informant) with a thousand 
dollars, for the purpose of recovering his daughter : lie immediately dispatched 
a confidential trader, then in his employ, with i\\n amount oi the 1000 dollars in 
merchandize, wh.o repaired to the nation, found her, and purchased her ran- 
som ; but to his great surprise, she refused to return with him to her father, 
and sent by him ihe following message : that the Indians had disfigiued her face 
by tattooing- it according to tlieir fancy and ideas of beauty, and a youi^.g man 
of them tiad taken her for liis wife, by whom s!ie believed herself pregnant ; 
that she had become reconciled to their mode of life, and was well treated by 
hor husband ; and that she should be more unhappy by returning tu her father, 
under thtfse circumstances, than by remaining where she was. Which mes- 
sage was conveyed to her father, who rewarded the trader by a present of 
300 dtillars more for his trouble and fidelity ; and his daughter is now living 
with her Indian husband in the nation, by whom she has three children. 

NATCHITOCHES, formerly lived where the town of Natchitoches is now 
situated, took its name from them. An elderly French gentleman, lately in- 
formed me, he remembered when they were 600 men sti'ong. 1 believe it is 
now 98yea.rs since the French first established themselves at Natchitoch ; ev- 
er since, these Indians have been th^ir steady and faithful friends. Alter the 
niassacreof the French inhabitants of Natchez, by the Natchez Indians, in 
1728, those Indians fled from the French, after being reinforced, and came up 
Ked River, and camjjed about six miles below th.e town of Natchitoches, near 
the river, by tiie side of a small lake of clear water, and erected a mound of 
tonsiderable size, where it now remaiui;. Monsieur St. Dennie, a French Ca- 
nadian, w.as then commandant at Natchitoches ; the Indians called him the Big 
Foot, were foml of him, for he was a brave mar. St. Dennie, with a few French 
soldiers, and what militia he could muster, joined by the NaicJiitoches Indiana, 
*ttatkcd Uie Natchez in their camp, early in the morning ; they defended 
themselves desperately for six hours, but were at length totally deieated by St. 
Dennie, and what of them that were not killed in battle, were drove into 
the lake, where the last of them perished, and the Natchez, as a nation became 
extinct. The lake is now called by no other name than the Natchez lake. 
There are now remaining of the Natchitoches, but 12 men and 19 women, 
who live in a village about 25 miles by land above the town which bears their 
name, near a lake, called by the French Lac de Muire. Their original lan- 
guage is the same as the Yattassee, but speak Caddo, and mcfst of them French. 
The French inhabitants have great respect for this nation, and a number of 
Yery decent families have a mixture of their blood in Ihem. They claim but 
a smair tract of land, on which they live, and I am informed, have the same 
yighls to it from government, that other inhabitants in their neighborhood 
iiave. They .are gradually wasting away ; the small pox lias been their great 
destroyer. They still preserve their Indian dress and habits; raise corn and 
those vegetables common in their neighboriiood. 

BOLUXAS, are emigrants from .near Pensacola. They came to Red River 
About 42 years ago, with some French families, who left that country about the 
tiriie Pensacola was taken possession of by the English. They were then a con- 
eiderable numerous tribe, and have generally embraced the Roman Catholic 
reiigio:"', and were ever highly esteemed by the French. They settled first at 
Avoyall,then moved higher up to Rapide JBayau, and from thence to the mouth 
of R.igula de Bondieu, a division of Red River, about 40 miles below Natchi- 
toch, where they now live, and are reduced to ab«ut 30 in number. Their na- 
tive language is peculiar to themselves, but speak Mobihan, which is spoken by 
all the Indians from the east side of the Mississippi. They are honest, harmless 
and friendly people. 

APPAI.ACHES, are likewise emigrants from West-Florida, from off the 
river whose name they bear ; came over to Red river about the same time the 
Bohixas did, and have, ever since, lived on the river, above Bayau Rapide. 
No nation havi been more highly esteemed by the French inhabitants; no 
t^omplaints against them are e-,er heard ; there are only 14 men remaining ; 
Lave their osvn language, but speak French and Mobilian. 



f9 



AMEftlCAil StAtE l«APfeRS. 49 

ALLIBAMIS, are likewise from West-Florida, ofF the Allibami river, 
tnd came to Red river about the same time of the Boluxas and Appahiches. 
i'art of them have lived on Red river, about 16 miles above the Bajau Rapide, 
till last year, when most of this pai-ty, of about 30 men, went up Red river, 
and have settled themselves near the Caddoques, where, I am iniormed, 
they last year made a good crop of corn. The Caddos are friendly to them, 
ind have no objection to their settling there. They speak the Creek and 
Chactaw languages, and Mobilian ; most of them French, and some of theia 
English. 

There is another party of them, whose village is on a.small ci'eek, in Ap- 
pelousa district, about 30 miles north west from the church of Appelousa, 
They consist of about 40 men. They have lived at the same place e\'er since 
they came from Florida ; are said to be increasing a little in numbers, lor :t 
few years past. They raise corn, have horses, hogs and cattle, ajid aie 
harmless, quiet people. 

CONCH ATT AS, ar» almost the same people as the Allibamis, but came 
6ver only ten years ago ; first lived on Bayau Chico, in Appelousa district, 
but, four years ago, moved to the river Sabine, settled themselves on tlie 
east bank, where tliey now live, in nearly a south direction from Natchitoch., 
^d distant about 80 miles. Tliey call their number of men 160, but stiv, if 
they were all together, they would amomit to 200. Several fumiiics of them 
Eve in detached settlements. They are good hunters, and ganie Is plenty 
'about vsrhere tliey are. A few days ago, a sm:.ll party of th.em v. ere liere, 
consisting of 15 persons, men, women and cliildren, who were on their re- 
turn from a bear hunt up the Sabine. They told me they hrd killed 118 ; 
but this year an uncommon number of bears have come down. One maa 
alone, on Sabine, during the summer and fall, hunting, killed 400 deer, sold 
his skins at 40 dollars a hundred. The bears this jear are not so i'at a.s 
common ; tliey usually yield from eight to twelve gallons of oil, each of 
tvhich never sells for less than a dollar a gallon, and the skin a dollar moie ; 
no great quantity of the meat is saved ; what tlie hunters don't u^e wheiiL 
out, they generally give to their dogs. The Conchettas are friendly with all 
Other Indians, and speak well of their neighbours the Carankouas, v.ho, they 
say, live about 80 miles south of them, on the bay, which, I believe, is tho 
hearest point to the sea from Natcliitoches. A few families of Ch;ictaw» 
have lately settled near them from Bayau Beuf The Conclif>ttas speak 
Creek, which is their native language, and Chactaw, and some of them Eng- 
lish, and one or two of them can read it a little. 

PAC ANAS, are a small tribe of about 30 men, who live on the Qjielque- 
rfioe river, which falls into the bay between Attakapa and Sabine, whit h 
heads in a prairie called Cooko prairie, about 40 miles south west of Natchi- 
toches. These people are likewise emigrants froni West-Florida, about 40 
years ago. Their Nallagc is about 50 miles south east of the Conchcdtas ; 
are said to be increasing a little in number ; quiet, peaceable and friciully 
people. Their own language differs from any other, but speak Mobiliau. 

ATTAKAPAS. This word, I am informed, when translated into F.ug- 
llsh, means man-eater, but is no more applicable to them than tmy othcj* 
tndians. The district they live in is called aff-r them. Their village is 
atout 20 miles to the westward of the Attakapa ch'i.rch, towards Qiielqueshoe. 
Their number of men is about 50, but some Tunicas and Humas, who ))a\e 
maiTied in their nation and live v/lth them, makes thcnt altogether about 80. 
They are peaceable and friendly to evei-y body ; labour, occasionally, for the 
•white inhabitants ; raise tlieir own corn ; have cattle aiid liogs. Their IriU- 
guage and the Carankouas is the same. They wcre,or near, where tliey now* 
live, when that part of the country w.\S first discovered by ihc French, 
VoL III. Appendix, G 



50 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

APPALOUSAS. It is said the word Appaloxisa, in tlie Indjnn lang-urglr^ 
Irit'.ms blivck head, or black skuU. Tliey are aborigines oi'the district called 
by tlieir name. Tlieir village is about 15 miles west from the Appelousa 
church ; have about 40 men. Their native huiguage dilllrs from :,ll other ; 
understand Attakapa and speiJi French ,- plant corn ; have cattle and hogs. 

TUrTICAS. These people lived formerly on the B.iyau Tunica, above' 
Point Coupee, on the Mississippi, ea.st side ; live now at Avoyall ; do not 
at present exceed 25 men. Their native language is peculiar to themselves, 
but sijeak Mobiiiaii ; are employed, occasioiudly, by the inhabitants as boat- 
m:.n, &c. in amity with all other people, and gi'adually dimimsliingin numbers.. 

PASC AGOL AS, live In a small village on Red river, about 60 miles be- 
lov.' Natciutoclies ; are emigrants from Pnscagola river, in West-Florida ; 
25 men only of them rem:iinnig ; speak Mobilian, but have a language pecu- 
liar to tlicmselves ; most of tliem speak and understand French. They raise 
good crops of corn, and garden vegetables ; have c^tle, horses, and poidtiy 
plenty. Tlieir horses are- much like the poorer kuid of French iuliabitants 
on the river,, and appear to live about as well. 

TENISAWS, are likewise emigi-ants from the Tenesau river, that falls 
into the bay of Mol)ile ; have been on Red river about 40 yeiu-s ; are reduced 
to about 25 men. Their vilhige is within one mile of the Pascagolas, on the 
opposite side, but have lately sold tiicir land, and have, or are about moving-, 
fo B.iyau Boauf, about 25 miles south from where they lately lived: all speak 
Fi-ench' and Mobilian, and live much like tlieir neighbom-s the Pascagolas. 

CHACTOOS, live on Bayau Beauf, about 10 miles to the southward ©f 
Bayau Rapide, on Red river, towards AppjJousa ; a small, honest people ; 
a*e aborigines of tiie country where they live ; of men about 30 ; diminish- 
ii.g" : have their own pecviliai* tong-ue ; speak Mobilian. The lands they, 
olaim on B:;;,'au Bc-auf are infcrioiu" to no pari of Louisiana in dci)th and rich- 
ness of soil, growth of timber, pleas:intness of surface and goodness of water.. 
The Ba} au Beaul falls into the Chafteli, and discliai-ges, through Appelousa 
Hud Attakapa,-into Vermilion Bay. 

WASH AS. Wlien the French first came into the Mississippi, this nation 
lived on an island to tlie- soutli west of New-Orleans, called Barritaria, and 
were the first tribe of Indians tliey became actjuainted wltli, and were al- 
ways friends. They afterwards lived on Bayau La Fosh ; and, from bein,^ 
a consideral^le natirm, are now reduced to five persons only, tv/o men and 
three women, who are scattered in French families ; have been many year* 
extinct, as a nation^ and tlieir native language is lost. 

CIIACT A WS. There are a considerable number of this nation on the west 
aide of tlie Mis.slssippi, who have not been home for several yeai's. About 
12 miles above th.e post on Oacheta, on that river, there is a siTvall village' of 
tiiem of about 30 men, who have lived there for several years, and made' 
corn; and likewise on Bayau Chico, in th"? northern piirt of the district of 
Appalousa, there is another village of them of about 50 men, who have been 
there fir about 9 years, and say they have the governom* of Louisiana''s per- 
mission to settle there. Besides these, tliere are rumbling hunting parties of 
them to be met with all over Lower Louisiana. They are at war with the 
Caddoques, and liked by neither red iwr white people. 

ARKENSAS, live on the Arkansa river, south side. In three villages, 
sJ>out 12 miles above tlie post, or station. The name of the first village i» 
Tiiviisninia, stHiond Oi^otu^ and tlie tiurd Ocapa ,• in all, it is believed, tlief 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. "51 

Ao nnt at present excp.pcl 100 men, and diminishing'. They at'c at war with 
the Osag-es, but friendly with all other peui)k-, wliit? and red ; iirc the oiigi- 
iiaJ proprietors of the country on the river, to all wliicli they lay claim, tor 
•ubout oOO miles above thi-m, to the junction of the river Cadwa with Ar- 
Icensa ; above this fork the Gsag'es claim. Their lang'uag'e i.s Osag-e. Tlicy 
generally raise corn to sell ; ai-e called honest and friendly people. 

The forcraenti(ined are all the Indian tribes tliat I have any knowledge of, 
or Clin obtain an account of, in Louisiajia, soutli of the river Arkensa, between 
Ihc Mi.ssi3sij)pi and the river Grand. At Avoyall there did live a considera- 
ble tribe of that name, but, as fai- as I can learn, have been extinct tior many 
} lar.s, two or three women excepted, who did lately live among the French 
inhabit.tnts on Washita. 

There are a few of tiic Humas still living on the east eide of the Missis- 
sippi, in Ixsusces parish, below Manchack, but scarcely exist, as a nation. 

Tliat there are errours in tlrese sketches is not to he doubted, but in rdl 
cases out of my own personal knowledge I have endeavoured to procure tha 
hest information, which I have faithfiiily related ; and I am confident any'' 
errours that do exist ai-e too unimportant to affect the object for which they 
9U-e intended. I am, sir, &.c. 

(Signed) JOHN SIBLEY. 

General H. Dearborx. 

Natchitoches, April 5, 1805. 



TO GENERAL HENRY DEARBORN, 

SECRET ART OF W4.R. 

YOU request me to give you aoane accoimt of Red river, and the count fV 
adjacent : I will endeavour to comply with your request, to tlie best of my 
knowledge and capacity. My jiersonal knowledge of it is only i'rom its 
mouth, to about 70 oi* 80 miles above Natchitoches, being, by Uie course of 
the river, near 400 miles. After that, what I can say of it is dei'ived from 
information from others, on whose veracit)' I have great reUance ; pi'incipally 
from Mr. Francis Grajipe, who is my assistant and interpreter of Indian 
languages ; whose father was a French officer, and supti'intendant of Indi;.n 
afiairs, at a post, or station, occupied by France, where they kept some 
soldiers, and had a factory, previous to the cession of Louisiana to Spain, 
situate nearly 500 miles, by the co<irse of the river, above Natchitoches, wiiere 
h'-, my informant, was born, and hved upwards of 30 years ; his time, during 
w'lich, being occupied alternately as an assistant to Ills father, an Inchan trader 
and hunter, with the advantage of some learning, and a very retentive memo- 
ry, acquired an accurate knowledge of the river, as well as the langiiages of 
all the (Ufi'erent Indian tribes of Louisiana, which, with his having been In- 
dian interpreter for the Spanish government for many years past, and (I be- 
lieve) desen^edly esteemed by the Indians, and all others, a man of strict 
integrity, has, fin- many years, and does now possess tiielr entire confidence, 
and a very extensive influence over them ; and I have invariably found, tliat 
whatever information I have received from him, has been cwifirmed by every 
other intelligent person, having a knowledge of the same, with whom I have 
conversed. 

NOTE. Contrary to geographical rules, as I ascended tlie river, I called 
#ie riglit bank the northern one^ and the left the soutjiern. 



53 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 



THE conHuence of Red river with the Mississippi is, bytlie course of 
the hitler, estimated about 220 miles from New-Orleans. Descending tlie 
Mississippi, after passing' the Spanish line at the 31st degi'ee of north lati- 
tude, it makes a remarkable turn to the westward, or nearly north west, for 
some distance before you arrive at the mouth of Red river, as though, notf 
withstanding the immense quantity of its waters already, from its almost 
numberless tributaiy sti'eams, it was still desirous of a farther augmentation, 
by hastening its union with Red river (w-hich, perhaps, is second only in 
dignity to it) that they mig-ht, from thence, flow on and join the ocean to- 
g-eth.er, which, for many leagues, is forced to give place to its mighty cur- 
rent. But there are reasons for believing tlie Red river did not always unite 
•with the Mississippi, as it does at present ; and that no very great length 
of time has elapsed since the Mississippi left its ancient bed, some miles to 
the eastw.U'd, and took its course westwardly for the purpose of intermarry- 
ing with Reel river. The mouth of the CIvafTeli, which is now, properly 
speaking, one of the outlets of the river Mississijipi to the ocean, is just 
below, in si.ght of the junction of Red river with the Mississippi ; and fron^ 
its resemblance to Red river in size, gi-owth on its banks, appearance and 
texture of soil, and duTering- from that of the Mississippi, induces strongly 
the belief that the Chaffeli was once but the continuation of Red river to 
the oceauj and that it had, in its bed, no connection with the Mississippi. 
There is? no doubt but tlie Mississippi has alternately occupied different 
places in the lew grounds through wliich it meanders, almost from the h\g\\ 
lands of one side to those of the other, for tlie average space of near 30 miles. 
These two great rivers happening to flow, for a distance, through the samo 
mass of swamp, that annually is almost all inundated, it is not extraordinary 
that their channels sliould find their way together ; the remarkable bend of* 
the Mississippi, at this place, to the westward, seems to have been for the 
express purpose of forming tliis miion ; after which it return9 to its for- 
picr coiu-se. 

In the month of March, 1803, I ascended Red river, froin its mouth to 
Natchitoches, in an open boat, unless when I chose to land and walk across 
a point, or by the beauty of tlie river bank, the pleasantness of its groves, or 
the variety' of its shrubs and flowers, I was invited ashore to gratify or please 
my curiosity. On entering the mouth of the river I found its waters turgid, 
of a red colour, and of a brackish taste ; and as the Mississippi was then 
f Lliing-, and Red river rising, fiund a current, from its moutli upwards, vary- 
ing considerably in places, but averacing about two miles an hour, fpr the 
Jirst lumdred miles, wliich, at that time, I found to be about the same in the 
l^Ilssissippi ; but, when thst river is high, and Red river low, there is very 
little current in tlie latter, for sixty or seventy miles ; the river, for that dis- 
tance, is very crooked, increasing tlie distance, by it, fi-om a straight line, 
Tuort than two thirds ; the general course of it nearly west: that I was able 
to ascertain, from hearing the morning gun at Fort Adams, for three or four 
mornings after entering the river, which was not at the greatest height by 
about fourteen feet ; and all the low gTounds, for near seventy miles, en-, 
tij'ely overnovvcd like those of the Mississippi, which, in fact, is but a con- 
tinuation of the same. Some places ajipeared, by the high water mark on 
ihe trees, to overflow not more than tw"u or three feet, ]jarticularly the right 
b;uilc, below the mouih of Black river, and the left bank above it ; the growth, 
on the lowest places, willow and cotton wood, but on the highest, handsome 
oaks, swamp hickory, ash, grape vines, &.c. 

1 made my calcidation of our rate of ascent and distances up the river, by 
Xny watch, noting carefully virith my pencil tlie minute of our stops and set- 
t"n.e:s off; the inlets and outlets, rem.arkable bends in the river, and \/hate%'e|i 
1 o'^scrved any way remnrkable. About six miles from the mouth of the 
liver, left sid^', there ig a bayau, a? it is called, cojnes in, that ^mpnu^icat^es 



AMERICAN STATE PAFKUS. ' $$ 

yn\h a lake called lake Long-, wliich, by another bayaii, commtinicates a(^nii| 
with tliC river, through which, when there is a swell in the river, boats can 

?aS9, and cut ofF aliout 30 miles, being' only 14 or 15 through it, and about 4$ 
y the course of the river ; and through the lake there is very little or nQ 
current ; but tlie passage is inti'icate and difficult to find ; a stranger should 
not attempt it without a pilot ; people have been lost in it for several da3's j 
but not difficult for one acquainted ; we, having no pilot on board to be de» 
pended on, kept the river. 

From the mouth of Red river to the mouth of Black river, I made it 31 
iniles : the water of Black river is clear, and when contrasted with tha 
%vater of Red river, has a black appearance. From the mouth of Black 
river. Red river makes a regular twining to the left, for about 18 miles, cal« 
Jed the Grand Bend, forming a segment of neai-ly three fourths oi' a circle ; 
when you arrive at the bayau that leads into lake Long, which, perhaps, is in 
a right line, not exceeding 15 miles from the mouth of tlie river. From 
payau Lake Long, to Avo\ all landing, called Baker's landing, I made 33 
piiles, and the river is remiu'kably crooked. At this place the guns at Fort 
y\.dams are distinctly heard, and the sound appears to be but little south of 
pi St. We came through a bayau called Silver Bayau, that cut off", we un» 
jlerstand, six miles ; it was through the bayau about four miles. IJntil w* 
aiTived at Baker's landing, saw no spot of gTound that did not overflow ; tha 
\i'igh water mark generally from 3 to 15 feet above its banks. After passing 
Plack river, the edge of the banks near the river are highest ; the land falls, 
from the river back. At Baker's landing I went ashore ; I understood, from 
JJaker's landing, cross the point, to Le Glass' landing, was only 3 or 4 miles, 
and by water 15 ; but I found it 6 at least, and met with some difficulty in 
getting from where I landed to the high land at Baker's house, for water, 
though at low water it is a chy cart road, and less than a m.ile. I found Baker 
and his family very hospitable and kind ; Mr. Baker told me he was a nativs 
«f Virginia, and had lived there upwards of 30 years. He was living on a 
tolerable good high piece of land, not prairie, but joining it. After leaving 
gaiter's house, was soon in sight of the prairie, which, I understand, is about 
40 miles in circumference, longer than it Is wide, very level, onlv a few 
clumps oftreestobe seen, all covered with good grass. The inliabjtant* 
are settled all around the out edge of it, b)' the woods, their houses facing 
inwards, and cultivate the prairie laiid. Though the soil, when tiUTied up 
by the plough, has a good appeai'ance, what I could discover by the old com 
and cotton stalks, they made but indiffi;rent crops ; the timber land that I 
aaw cleared and planted, produced the best ; the prairie is better for grass 
than for planting. The inhabitants have considerable stocks of cattle, which 
appears to be their principal dependence, and I was inforrped tlieir beef is 
of a superiovu" quality : they have likewise good pork ; hogs live ver)- well ; 
the timbered country all round the prairie is principally oak, that produced 
good mast for hogs. Corn is generally scarce ; they raise no wheat, for 
they have no mills. I was informed that the low er end of the pr;iirie, that 
I did not see, was much the richest land, and the inhabitants lived better 
and were more w^e;;)thy ; they are a mixture of French, Irish and Americans, 

fenerally poor and ignorant. Avoyall, at high water, is an island, elevated 
or 40 feet above high water mark ; the quantity of timbered land exceed* 
that of the prairie, which is likewise pretty level, but scarcely a second 
qn.dity of soil. La Glass' landing, as it is called, I found about a mile and i| 
half from tlie upper end of the prairie ; the high lands bluff to the river," 
After leaving tliis place found the banks rise higher and higher on each side 
and fit for settlements ; on the right side pine woods sometimes in sight. I 
left tiie boat again about eight miles from Le Glass' landing, riglit side ; 
walked two and a half miles across a point, to a Mi-. Hoomes' ; round the 
^ointis called 16 miles. I found tlie lands, through which | passed, Iiie-h, 



Si AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

moderately hilly ; the soil a good second quality, clay ; timber, large onJr, 
hickory, s .me short leaved pine ; and several small sU-eams of clear running? 
water. This description of lands extended back 5 or 6 miles, and bounded 
by open pine woods, which continue, for 30 miles, to Ocatiihola. I found 
Mr. Houmes' house on a high bhifi' very near the river ; his plantation th« 
same description of land tln-cugh which I htid passed, producing- good corn, 
cotton and tobacco, and he told me he liacl tried it in wiieat, whicli succeed- 
ed well, but Iiaving- no mills to manufacture it, had only made the experi- 
ment. Mr. Hoomes told me all the lands round liis, for majiy miles, were 
vacant. On the south side there is a lai-ge body of rich,, low grounds, ex- 
tending to the borders of Appalousa, watered and drained by Bayau Robert 
und Bayau Beauf, two handsome streams of clear water that rise in the high 
lands between Red river and Sabine, and after meandering through tliis im- 
mense mass of low gi-ounds of 30 or 40 miles square, fall into the Challcli, 
to the soutluvro-d ofAvoyail. I believe, in point of soil, growth of timber, 
goodiiess of water, and conveniency to navigation, there is not a more valua- 
ble bodv of land ui this part of Louisiana. From Mr. Hoomes' to the mouth 
of kapide Bayau is, by the river, 35 miles. A few scattering settlements on 
tlie right side, but none on the left ; the right is prefen-ed to settle on, on 
account of their stocks being convenient to the high lands ; but the settler* 
on the right side own the lands on the left side too ; the lands on the Bayau 
Rapide are the same quality as tliose on Bayaus Robert and Beauf, and, in 
fact, are a continuation of tlie same body of lands. Bayau Rapide is some- 
what in the form of a half moon j the two points, or horns, meeting the river 
about 20 miles from each other : the leng-th of the bayau is about 30 miles ; 
on the back of it there is a large bayau falls in, on which there is a saw mill, 
very advantageously situated, in respeetto a never failing supply of water ; 
plenty of timber ; and tlie phmk can be taken from the mill tail by water. 
This bayau is excellent water ; rises in the pine woods, and discharges itself 
e.ach way into the river, by both ends of Bayau Rapide. Boats cannot pas« 
through the bayau, from tlie river to the ri\£r again, on account of rafts of 
timber clioaking tlie uj^per end of it, but can enter the lower end and ascend 
it more than half through it. On the lower end of the bayau, on each side, 
is the principal Rapide settlement, as it is called ; no counti-y whatever can 
exhibit handsomer plantations, or better lands. The Rapide is a fall, or 
«hoal, occasioned by a soft rock in tlie bed of the river, that extends from 
side to side, over v/liich, for about five months in tlie year, (viz.) from July 
to December, tliere is not sufficient water for boats to pass without lig-hten- 
ing, but at all otlier seasons it is tlie same as any other pai-t of -the river. 
This rock, or liard clay, for it resembles the latter almost as much as tlie 
Ibrmer, is so soft it may be cut away with a pen knife, or any sharp instru- 
ment, and scarcely tm*n the edge, and extends up and down tlie river but a 
few yards ; and I have Jieard several intelligent persons give it as their 
opiiiion, that the extraordinary expense and trouble the inhabitants were at, 
in one year, in geiting- loaded boats over this slioid, would be more than suf- 
ficient to cut a p:issap;e through it ; but it happens at a season of the year 
■jvhen the able planters ai-e occupied at home, and would malie no use of tlie 
river were there no obstructions in it ; but at any rate, the navigation of tli(? 
river is clear a longer proportion of the year than the rivers in the northern 
comitries are clear of ice. But this obstruction is certainly removable, at a 
very trifling expense, in comparison to the importance of having it done ; 
and notliing but the nature of the government we have lately emerged from, 
tan be assig-ued as a reascm for its not having been effected long ago. 

After passing the Rapides there are very few settlements to be seen, on 
the main rive r, for iibout 20 miles, though botli sides apjieared to me to be 
capable of making as valuable settlements as any on tlie river ; we ai'rive 
^en at the Indian villages, on botli sides, situated exceedingly plea8an\, a_n4 



AUEKICAN 3TATB PAPBR». 99 

•R tlie best lands ; after passing- which you arrive at a larg'c, Ix-autifiil plan-* 
ialion of Mr. Gillarcl ; the house is on a point ot" a high pine woods blutt!, closa 
to tlie river, 60 or 70 feet above the common surtace of tlie country, over- 
looking-, on tlie east, or opjxwite side, very extensive fields of low grounds, 
in higli cultivation, and a lon{^- reach of the river, up and down ; and there 
is an excellent spring of water issues fi'om the bluft, on which tlie house is 
situated, fi'om an apertui'e in the rock that seems to have been cloven on 
purpose for it to flow, and a small distance, back of the house, tliere is a 
lake of clear water, a.bounding' with fish in summer and fowl in winter. I 
have seen in all my life, very tew more bea.utiful or advantageously situated 
places. 

Six miles above Gillard's, you arrive at the small village of Boluxa Indians, 
where the river is divided Into two cliannels, forming an island of about 50 
miles in length, and 3 or 4 in breadth. The right hand division is called tha 
Rigula de Bondieu, on whicli ai-e no settlements ; biit, I cm Informed, will 
admit of being well settled ; tlie left hand chvlslon is tlie boat channel, at 

fjresent, to Natchitoches : the otlier is likewise beatable. Ascenchng the 
eft hand branch for about 24 miles, we pass a tlucli settlement and a num- 
ber of wealthy inhablt;ints. This is called the Jiiver Cane settlement ; called 
so, I beUeve, from the banks some years ago, being a remai^kable thick 
eane-brake. 

After passing this- settlement of about forty families, the river dividc» 
again, forming anotlier island of about thirty mJlcs in length, and from two 
to four in breudtli, called tlie Isle Brewl, after a reputable old man now liv- 
ing in it, who first settled it. This ishmd is sub-divided by a bayau tliat 
communicates from one river to the otln^r, called also Bayau Brevel. The 
middle division of the river, is called Little river, and it is thickly settlcdy 
»nd is tlie boat channel : tlie westward chvlslon of the river is called False 
river ; Is navigable, but not settled ; the banks are too low ; it passes througli 
a lake called Lac Occassa. When you arrive at Natchitoches, you find it a 
small, irregidai', and meanly built village, half a dozen liouses excepted, on 
the west side of tliat division of the river it is on, tlie high pine and oak 
woods approach within two or tlirce hundred yards of the river. In the 
village ai'e about forty families, twelve or fifteen ai-e merchants or traders, 
nearly all French. .The fort built by our troops since their arriv:U, called 
Fort Claiborne, is situated on a small hill, one street from the river, and 
about tliirty feet higher tliaii the river banks. All the hill is occupied by 
Idle fort and barracks, and does not exceed two acres of ground. The 
southern and eastern prospects from it are very beautiful. One has an ex- 
tensive view of the fields and habitations down the river, and the other a 
similar view over the river, and of the whole village. This town, thirty or 
forty years ago, was much larger than at present, and situated on a hill 
about half a mile from its present site. Then most of tlie families of the 
district lived in the town, but finding it inconvenient on account of the stock* 
and farms, they filed oft", one after another, and settled up and down the 
river. The merchants and trading people found being on the bank of the 
river more convenient for loading and unloachng tlieir boats, left the hiU oa 
that account , and others, finchng the river ground mueh superiom* for gar- 
dens, to which they ai-e in the liabit of paying great attention, followed the 
merchiuits ; after them the priests and commandant ; then the church and 
jail (or calleboose), and now nothing of the old town is left, but the foi'm of 
their gardens and some ornamental trees. It is now a very extensive com- 
mon of several hundred acres, entirely tufted with clover, and covered with 
sheep and cattle. The hill is a stift" clay, and used to make miry streets i 
tlie river soil, though much richei-, is of a loose, sandy, texture ; the streets 
are neither miry nor very dusty. Our wells do not afibrd us good water, 
And the rivef water, in summer, i« too brackish to drink, and never dear- 



#^ ArMBRICAS STATiS PAF£H!^j 

^ur spring-si are about half a mile back from the river, biit th^ irilialjitarifs'jj 
ftany of them, have large cisterns, and use, principally, rain water, which irf 
preferred to the spring- water. I'iie planters along; on tlie river g-enerally* 
itse rain water ; thougli when tlie river is hig'h, and the water taken up and 
settled in large earthen jai-s, (whicli the Indian women make of good quality 
and at a moderate price) it can be di-ank tolerably well, but it makes bad tea^ 
Near Natchitoches there are two large lakes, one within a mile, \hd 
other six miles to the nearest parts. One of them is fifty or sixty miles iiS 
circumfereiKie, the otlier upwards of thirty : these lakqS rise and fall witht 
the river. Wlien the river is rising the bayaus that connect with the lakes, 
run into the lakes like a mill-tail, till tlie lakes iU'e filled ; and when the rivei* 
is falling, it is tlie same the contraiy way, just like the tide, but only annual. 
Pn these creeks good mills miglit be erected, but the present inhabitants 
know nothing of mills by water, yet have excellent cotton gins worked by^ 
horses. I do not know a single mechanick in the district, who is a native of 
it, one tailor excepted. Every thing of the kind is done by strangers, mostl/ 
Americans. Though Natcliitochcs has been settled almost one hundred 
yeai's, it is not more than twelve or fifteen years since they ever had a plough, 
or a flat to cross tlie river with ; both v.'hich were introduced by an Irislt 
Pennsylvanian, midel- a similar Opposition to the Copernican system. 'Tia? 
almost incredible tlie quantity of fisli and fowl these lakes supply. It is not 
uncommon in winter for a single man to kill from two to four hundred fowl 
in one evening ; they fly between sundown and dark ; the air is filled with 
them ; they load and fire as fast as they can, witliout taking any particular 
aim, continuing at the same stand till thej' tliink they have killed enough^ 
iflid then pick up what they have killed ; they consist of several kinds of 
duck, geese, brant, and swan. In summer the quantities of fish are nearly' 
in proportion. One Indian, with a bow and arrow, sometimes Will kill them 
fabter tlian another, with two horses, can bring them in ; they Woigh, some 
of them, thirty or forty pounds. The lakes likewise afibrd plenty of shells' 
for lime ; and at low water, tlie greatei- of them is a most luxuriant meadow, 
wliere the inhabitants fatten their horses. All round tiiese lakes above high 
Water mai'k, there is a border of rich land, generally wide enough for a fieldw 
On the bank of one of them, there is plenty of stone coal, and several quaiTiesf 
of tolerable good building stone ; at high water boats can go out of the river' 
into them. Similar lakes are found all along Red river* for five or sijt hun-' 
died miles, v/hich, besides the uses ah-eady mentioned, nature seems to' 
have provided as reservoirs for the immense quantity of water beyond what 
the banks of the river will contain ; otherwise no part of them could be in- 
habited : the low grounds, from hill to hill, •Wrould be inundated. About 
twelve miles north of Natchitoches, on the north east side of the river, there 
js a large lake called Lac ifoiz ; the bayau of it communicates to tlie Rigtila 
de Bondieu, opposite Natchitoch, which is boatable the greater part of th(i 
year. Ne.ar this lake are the salt works, froih which all the salt that is used 
jn tlie district, is made ; and which is tnade witli so much ease, that two old 
Itien, both of them cripples. With ten or twelve old pots and kettles, have, for' 
efeveral years past, made an abmidant supply of salt for the whole district 5 
they inform me they make six bushels per day. I have not been at the place, 
tftit have a bottle of the water brought to me, which I found nearly saturated. 
"f he salt is good. I never had better bacon than I make with it. I am in- 
(brmcd, there ai'e twelve saline springs now open ; and by digging for tlieni, 
for oug'ht any one knows, twelve hundred might be opened. A few months- 
f<go, captain Burnet, of the Mississippi territory, coming to this place by 
Washita, came by the salt Works, and purchased the right of one of the old 
ifteh he found there, and has lately sent up a boat, with some large kettles 
and some negroes, under the direction of his son ; and expects, when they 
gffet all in order, to be able to make thirty or forty bushels a day. Captain" 
Burnet is of opinion, that he shajl be able to supply the Mississippi territory. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. Stf 

knd the settlements on Mississippi, from Polr.t Coupee, upwards, lower than 
they can get it in New-Orleans and bring it up. Cathartic salts, and mag- 
nesia, might likewise be made in large quantities, if they understood it. The 
countiy idl romid the Sabine and B'ack lake is vacant, and from thence to 
Washita, a distance of about one hunched and twenty miles, which I am in- 
formed atlbrds considerable quantities of well timbered good uplands, and 
well watered. There is a small sti-eam we cross on the Washita road, the 
English call it Little River, the French Dogdi'mona, afibrding a wide rich 
bottom : this sti"eam falls into the Acatahola lake ; from thence to Washita, 
it is called Acatahola river ; its course is eastwardly, and falls into Washita, 
near the moutli of Tensaw, where the road from Natchitoches to Natciiez, 
crosses it ; from tlie confluence of these three rivers, downwards, it is called 
Black river, which falls into Red river, sixty miles below. There is a good 
salt spring near the Acat;Jiola lake. 

Ascending Red river, above Natchitoches, in about tlu'ee miles arrive at 
the upper mouth of tlie Rigida de Bondieu : there are settlements all along ; 
plantations adjoining. From the upper mouth of the Rigula de Bondieu, the 
river is one channel through the settlement called Grand Ecore, of about six 
miles ; it is called Grand Ecore, (or in English the Great Bluff) being such 
a one on the left hand side, near one hundred feet high. The face next the 
river, almost perpendicular, of a soft, white rock ; the top, a gravel loam, of 
considcrale extent, on which grow large oaks, hickory, black cherry, and 
gi'ape ^^nes. At the bottom of one of these bluffs, for there are two near 
each other, is a large quantity of stone -coal, and near them several springs of 
the best water in this part of the country ; and a lake of clear water within 
two hundred yards, bounded by a graVelly margin. I pretend to have no 
knowledge of military tacticks,but thinlc, from the river in this place being all 
in one chaimel, the goodness of the water, a high, healthy country, and well 
timbered all round it, no height near It so high, its commanding the river, and 
a very publick ferr)' just under it, and at a small expense, would be capable of 
great defence with a small rorce. The road from it to the westward, better 
than from Nachitoch, and by land only about five miles above it, and near it 
plenty of good building stone. These advantages it possesses beyond any 
other place within my knowledge on the river, for a strong fort, and safe 
place of deposit. Just about this bluff, the river makes a large bend to the 
right, and a long reach nearly due east and west by it ; the bluff overlooks, 
on the opposite side, several h.andsome plantations. I have been induced, 
from the advantages this place appeared to me to possess, to purchase it, 
"with foiu" or fi^e small settlements adjoining, including both bluffs, the ferry, 
springs and lake, tlie stone quarries, and coal ; and a field of about five hun- 
dred acres of the best low grounds, on the opposite side. After leaving Grand 
Ecore, about a mile, on tlie left side comes in a large ba}au, fi*om the Spanish 
lake, as it is called, boatable the greater part of the year. This lake^is said 
to be about fifty miles in circumference, and rises and falls with the river, 
into which, from the river, the largest boats may ascend, and from it, up the 
mouths of several large bayaus that fall into it, for some distance, one in par- 
ticular called bayau Dupong, up which boats may ascciid within one and a 
half mile of old fort Adaize. Leaving this bayau about two miles, arrive at 
a fork or cli\dsion of the river ; the left hand branch bears wcstwardly for 
sixty or eighty miles ; then eastwardly, meeting the branch it left, after form- 
ing an island of about one hundred miles long, and, in some places, nearly 
thirty miles wide. Six or seven years ago, boats used to pass this way into 
the main river again ; its communication with which being above the great 
raft or obstruction ; but it is now choaked, and requires a portage of three 
miles ; but at any season, boats can go from Natchitoches, about eighty miles, 
to the place called the i^oint, where the French had a factory, and a small 
station of soldiers to guard the Indian trade, and is now undoubtedly a very 

Vol. III. Appendix. H 



58 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS, 

eligible situation for a similar establishment. The country bounded to tlie 
east and north, by this branch or division of the river, is called the bayau 
Pierre settlement, which was begun, and some of the lands granted be tore 
Louisiana was ceded to Spain by France, and continued under the jurisdic- 
tion of the commandant of Natchitoches until about twenty years ago, when, 
by an agreement between a Mr. Vogone, then commandant of this place, and 
a Mr. Elibarbe, commandant at Natchitoches, the settlement called bayau 
Pierre, was placed under the jm-isdiction of the latter, and has so continued 
ever since. Tlie settlement, I believe, contains about forty families, and 
generally they have large stocks of cattle : they supply us with our cheese 
entirely, and of a tolerable quality, and we get from them some excellent 
bacon hams. Tlie coimtry Is interspersed with prairies, resembling, as to 
richness, the river bottoms, and, in size, from five to five thousand acres. 
The hills are a good grey soil, and produce very well, and afford beautlfiJ 
situations. The creek called Bayau Pierre, (stony creek) passes through 
tlie settlement, and affords a number of good mill seats, and its bed and 
banks lined with a good kind of building stone, but no mills are erected on 
it. Some of the inhabitants have ti-led the uplands In wheat, which succeed- 
ed well. They ai"e high, gently rolling, and ricli enough ; produce good 
corn, cotton, and tobacco. I was through tlie settlement in July last, and 
found good water, eitlier from a spring or well, at eveiy house. The inhab- 
itants are all French, one family excepted. A few miles to the westward, 
towai-ds Sabine, there is a Saline, wliere the inhabitants go and make their 
salt. On the whole, for health, good water, good living, plenty of food for 
every kind of animal, general convenlency, and handsome sui'tace, I have seen 
few parts of the world more inviting to settlers. 

Retm-ning back again to the fork of the main river we left, for the purpose 
of exploring the Bayau Pierre branch, we find irregular settlements, includ- 
ing Camptl, where a few families are settled together on a hill near the river, 
northeast side. For about 20 miles, the river land is much the same every 
where, but the Camptl settlement is more broken with bayaus and lagoons 
than any place I am acquainted wltli on the river, and for want of about a 
dozen bridges Is liiconvenient to get to, or travel through. The upper end 
of this settlement is tlie last on the main branch of Red river, which, straight 
by land, does not exceed 25 miles above Natcliltochcs. At the upper house 
the great raft or jam of timber begins ; this raft cho.'iks the main cliannel for 
upwards of 100 miles, by the com-se of the river ; not one entire jam from 
the beginning to the end of it, but oidy at tlie points, with places of several 
leagues that are clear. Tlie river Is very crooked, and tlie low grounds are 
wide and rich, and I am Informed, no part of Red river will alford better 
jilantations than along its banks bj' this raft, wliicli is represented as being so 
important as to render the coimtry above it of little value for settlements ; 
this opinion is fomided entirely upon incorrect information. The first or 
lowest part of the raft is at a bend or point in the river, just below the upper 
plantation, at which, on tlie right side, a large bayau, or division of the river, 
called Bayau Clianno, comes in, which is free of any o!-.<;tructions, and the 
greater part of the year boats of any size may ascend it, into lake Bistlno, 
tlirough whlcli, to its communication with tlic lake, is only about three miles ; 
the lake is about 60 miles long, and lays nearly parallel with tlie river, from 
the u])per end of which it communicates ag-ain with tl'>e river, by a bayau 
cnWed Daichet, about 40 miles above the upper end of the raft ; from the lake 
to the liver, tlirough Bayau Daicliet, is called nine miles ; there is always in 
tills bayau sufficient water for any boat to pass ; from thence upwards Red 
liver is free of all obstructions to the mountains. By lake Bistino, and these 
two bayaus, an Island is formed, about 70 miles long, and three or four wide, 
capable of ailordlng settlements inferiouj' to iione on tlie liver. From the above 
account you will perceive, that the only difficulty In ojxr.ing a boat passage 
by this raft, through the lake, which, is much sb.orter tiian by the course of 
tiie river, and avoid the current, ami indeed, was tlie river unobsti'ucted. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 59 

nvould always be preferred, is this small jam of timber at the point, just be- 
low the ba}'au Clianno, as it is called. 

After the receipt of your letter, I had an opportunity of seeing some of the 
inhabitants who live near this place, who informed me, that that small raft 
was easily broken, and tliat tliey had lately been talking' of doing- it. I per- 
suaded tiie;m to make the attempt, and they accordingly appointed the Friday 
following-, and all the neighbom-s were to be invited to attend and assist. 
They met accordingly, and effected a passage next to one bank of tlie river, 
«o that boats could pass, but did not entirely break it ; they intend to take 
anotlier spell at it, when tlic water falls a little, and speak confidently of 
succeeding-. 

The country about the head of lake Bistino, is highly spoken of, as well 
the high lands, as tlie river bottom. There are falling- into the river and 
lake in the vicinity, some handsome streams of clear wholesome water from 
towards Washita, one in particular called bayau Badkah by tlie India.is, 
yrliich is boatable at some seasons ; this bayau passes througli a long, narrow 
and rich prairie, on which, my informant says, 500 famlUes miglit be desira- 
bly settled ; and from thence up to where the Caddos lately lived, the river 
banks ai-e high, bottoms wide and rich as any otlier part of the river. From 
thence it is much the same to the moutlxof the Little river of the left ; this 
river is g-enerall}' from 50 to an 100 yards wide ; heads in the gi-eat prairies, 
soutli of Red river, and interlocks with the head branches of the Sabine and 
Trinity rivers ; and in times of liigh water is boatable 40 or 50 leagues, af- 
fording a large body of excellent, well timbered and rich land, the low 
grounds from 3 to 6 miles wide : but the quality of the water, though clear, 
is very inferioiu- to that of the streams that fall into Red river on the north 
side. The general com-se of the Red river from this upwards is nearly from 
west to east, till we ai-rive at tlie Panis towns, when it turns northwest- 
wardly. After leaving the mouth of the Little river of the left, both banks 
are covered with strong, tliick cane for about 20 miles ; tlie low grounds 
very wide, rich, and do not overflow ; the river widening in proportion as 
the banks are less liable to overflow ; you ari'ive at a handsome^ rich prairie, 
25 miles long on the right side, and 4 or 5 miles wide ; boimded by hand- 
some oak and hickory woods, mixed with some slioJt-leaved pine, interspers- 
ed with pleasant streams and fountains of water. The opposite, or left side 
is a .continuation of thick cane ; the river or low lands 10 or 12 miles wide.- 
After leaving the prairie,the cane continues for about 40 miles ; youthen ar- 
rive at another prairie, called Litile pi-airie, left side, about 5 rnilcs in length, 
and from 2 to 3 in breadth ; opposite side continues cane as before ; low 
lands wide, well timbered, very rich, and overflow but little ; the river still 
widening. Back of the low grounds, is a well timbered, ricli upland coun- 
try ; gently rolling and well watered ; from the Little prairie, both banks 
cane for 10 or 12 miles, w'len the oak and pine woorls come bluff" ti the 
river ff)r aliout 5 miles ; left hand side, cane as before ; then the same on 
both sides, for from 10 to 20 miles wide, for about 15 miles, when the cedar 
begins on both sides, and is the principal growth on the wide, rich river 
bottom for 40 miles ; in all the world there is scarcely to be found a more 
beautifid growth of cedar timber 5 the}, like the cedars ofLibanus, are 
large, lofty and straight. 

You now arrive at the mouth of the Little river of tJie riglit ; tliis river is 
about 150 yards wide : the water clear as chrystal ; the bottom of the river 
stony, and is boatable, at high water, up to the great^>rairies near 200 miles by 
the course of the river; the low gTounds generally from 10 to 15 miles wide, 
abounding with the most luxuriant growth of rich timber, but subject to 
partial inund.ation at p-u-ticidar rainy seasons. After leaving this river, both 
banks of Red river aie <-:'.:ie as before, for about 20 miles, when you come 
to the round jjrairie, i-ight side, about 5 miles in circumference. At^tlii."* 
place Red river i.-; fordahic at low water ; a hard stony bottom, and -is the 
.iii-st place from Ks mouth where it can Le forded. This round prairie i,s 



60 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

high and pleasant, surroimded by handsome oak and hickoiy uplands ; left 
side cane as before, and tlien the same both sides for 20 miles, to the lon^ 
prairie, left side, 40 miles long ; opposite side cane as before ; near tlie 
middle of this pr;urie, there is a lake of about 5 miles in circumference, in 
an oval form, neither tree nor shrub near it, nor stream of water running 
either in or out of it ; it is very deep, and the water so limpid that a fish 
mav be seen 15 feet from the surface. By the side of this lalce the Caddo- 
quies have lived from time immemorial. About one mile fi'om the lake is 
the hiU on which, they say, tlie great spirit placed one Cuddo family, who 
were saved when, b}"- a general deluge, all the world were dro\\nied ; from 
wliich family all the Indians have orig-inated. For this little natural emi- 
nence all tiie Indian tribes, as well as the Caddoquies, for a gi-eat distance, 
pay a devout and sacred homage. Here the French, for many years before 
Louisiana was ceded to Sj^ain, had erected a small fort ; kept some soldiers 
to guard a f^ictory they had here established for the Indian trade, and several 
French families were settled in the vicinity, built a flour mill, and cultivated 
wiieat successfully for several jears ; and it is only a few years ago that the 
mill irons and mill stones were bi-ought down : it is about 25 years since 
those French families moved down, and 14 years since the Caddoquies left it. 
Here is anotlicr fording place when tlie river is low. On the opposite side a 
point of high oak, hickory, and pine land comes bluff to the i-iver for about a 
mile ; after wliich, thick cane to the upper end of the pi'airie ; then the same 
on both sides for aliout 12 miles ; then prairie on the left side for 20 miles, op- 
posite side cane ; then the same for 30 miles, then an oak high bluff 3 miles, 
cane again for about the same distance, on both sides ; then for about one 
league, left side, is a beautifid grove of paeans, intermixed with no otijer 
growth ; after which, cane both sides for 40 miles ; then prairie, left side, 
for 20 miles, and from one to two miles only in depth ; about the middle of 
which comes in a bayau of clear running water, about 50 feet wide ; then 
cane again both sides tlie river for aljout 40 miles ; then, on the right side, 
a point of hig-h pine woods bluft' to the river for about half a mile, cane again 
15 or 16 miles ; then a bluff of large white rocks for about half a mile, near 
100 feet hig'h, cane ag-ain about 45 miles, to a prairie on the right side, of 
about 30 miles long, and 12 or 15 miles wide ; there is a thin skirt of wood 
along the bank of the river, that when the leaves are on the trees, the prairie 
is, from the river, scai-cely to be seen. Fi'om the upper end of this prairie 
it is thick cane again for about six miles, when we luu-ive to the mouth of 
E.'iyau Galle, which is on the right side, about 30 yards wide, a beautiful, 
cleai', running stream of wholesome well tasted water ; after passing which 
it is thick c;me again for 25 miles, when v/e arrive at a river that falls in on 
(tie right side, Vv'hich is called by the Indians Kioviitchie, and by the French 
La Riviere la Mine,o\' Mine river, which is about 150 yards wide, the water 
clear and good, and is boatable about 60 miles to the silver mine, which is 
on tlie bank of the river, and the ore appears in large quantities, but the 
richness of it is not known. The Indians inform of th cir discovering another, 
about a year ago, on a creek that empties into the Kiomitchie, about three 
miles from its moutli, the ore of which they say resembles the other. The 
bottom land of tiiis river is not v/ide, but rich ; the adjoining high lands are 
rich, well tim.bered, well watered and situated. About the mine the cur- 
rent of tlie river is too strong for boats to ascend it, the country being liilly. 
After passing the Kiomitchie, both banks of the river are covered v/itli thick 
cane for 25 miles, then, left side, a high pine bluff appears again to the river 
for about half a mile, after wiiich nothing but cane again on each side fof 
about 40 miles, wiiich brings you to the moutli of a handsome bayau, left 
side, called by the Indians Nahaucha, which, in English, means the Kick ; 
the French call it Bois d'Arc, or Bov>r-wood creek, from the huge quantity 
of that wood tliat gi'ows upon it. On tbis bayau trappers have been more 
successful in catching beaver than on any other water of Red river ; it com- 
municates with a lake, three or four miles from its mouth, called Swan lake. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 61 

jfroitt tlie great number of swan that frequent it ; it is believed that thia 
bayau is boatable at high water, for 20 or 30 leagues, from what I have been 
informed by some hunters witli whom I have conversed, who have been 
upon it The low grounds are from three to six miles wide, very rich, the 
principal growtli on it is the Bois d'arc. The gi-eat prairies approach pretty 
near the low grounds on eacli side of this creek ; leaving which it is cane 
both sides for about eight miles, when wc arrive at the mouth of the Vaz- 
zures, or Boggy river, which is about 200 yards wide, soft miry bottom, the 
water wliitish, but well tasted. Attempts have been made to ascend it in 
perogues, but it was found to be obstructed by a raft of logs, about 20 miles 
up. The ciu-rent was fomid to be gentle, and depth of water sufficient ; 
was the clianncl not obstructed might be ascended far up- The low 
groimds on this river are not as w^ide as on most of the rivers that fall into 
Red river, but \'ery rich ; the liigh lands are a strong clay soil ; the princi- 
pal growtii oak. After leaving this river tlie banks of Red river are alter- 
nately cane and prairie ; timber is very small and scattered along only in 
places ; it is only now to be seen along the water courses. From the Boggy 
river to the Blue river is about 50 miles, which comes in on the right side. 
Tlie water of this river is called blue, from its extreme transpai-cncy ; it is 
said to be well tasted, and admired, for its quality, to drink. The bed of 
tliis river is lined generally with black and grejish flint stones ; it is about 
50 yai'ds wide, and represented as a beautiful stream ; perogues ascend it 
about 60 or 70 miles. The low grounds of Blue river are a good width for 
plantations, very rich ; the growth paean, and every species of the walnut. 
The whole country liere, except on the margin of the water courses, is one 
immense prairie. After passing this river, copses of wood only are to be 
seen lierc and there along the river bank for about 25 miles, to a small turgid 
river, called by the Intlians Bahachaha, and by the French Fouxoacheta ; 
some call it the Missouri branch of Red river ; it emits a considerable quan- 
tity of water ; runs from north to soutli, and falls into Red river 
itearly at right angles, and heads near the head of the Arkensa, 
and is so brackish it cannot be drank. On this river, and on a 
brancli of tlie Arkensa, not far from it, the Indians find the salt rock; pieces 
of it have often been brought to Natchitoches by hunters, who procured it 
from the Indians. From 3ie mouth of this river, througli the prairie, to the 
main branch of the Arkensa, is three days journey ; perhaps 60 or 70 miles 
in a straight line. From this to the Panis, or Towrache towns, by land, is 
about 30 miles, and by water, double that distance ; the river is nearly a 
mile wide. The country on each side, for many hr.ndreds of miles, is all 
prairie, except a skirt of wood along the river bank, and on the smaller 
sti'eams ; what trees there arc, are small ; the grass is gi-een summer and 
winter. In between 33 and 34 degTces of north latitude, the soil is very 
rich, producing, luxuriously, every thing tliat is planted in it : the river, 
from this upwards, for 150 miles, continues at least a mile wide, and may 
be ascended in perogues. 

Mr. Grajipe, to whom I am indebted for the foregoing accurate descrip- 
tion of Red river, informed me, tliat his personal knowledge of it did not 
extend but httle above the Panis towns ; but Mr. Brevel, of the Isle Bi-evel, 
who was born at tlie Caddo old towns, wliere he was, had been farther up 
it, and that whate'^'or account he gave me might be relied on. 

I therefore sought an opportunity, a few days after, to obtain from Mr. 
Brevel the following narrative, wliich I wrote down from his own mouth, 
as he related it : 

" About 40 years ago, I sat off, on foot, from the Panis nation (who tlien 
lived about 50 leagues above where they now live) in conipan}' with a party 
of young Indian men, with whom I had been partly raised, on a hunting 
voyage, and to ])roi,ure horses. Wc kept up on the soiitii side of Red river,ai 
near it as we could conveniently cross the small streams that fall in, some- 
times at some clJstaiice, and at others very near it, and in sight of it. W« 



€2 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

found the country all prairie, except small copses of wood, cedar, cotto» 
■wood, or musketo, amongst which a stick six inches in diameter could not 
be found ; the surfoce becoming' more and more light, sandy and hilly, with 
hedges of clifts of a g-reyish sandy rock, but every where covered with her- 
bage. We found many small streams falling into the river, but none of any 
considerable size, or that discharged much water in dry seasons, but many 
deep gullies formed by the rain water. After travelling for several days 
over a country of this description, the country became more broken, the hills 
rising into mountains, amongst which we saw a great deal of rock salt, and 
an ore the Indians said was my (meaning the white people's) treasure, 
wliich I afterwards learned was silver. And that amongst these mountains 
of mines, \ve often heard a noise like the explosion of a cannon, or distant 
tliunder, which the Indians said was the spirit of the white people working 
in their treasm'e, which, I afterwards was informed, was the blowing of the 
mines, as it is called, wliich is common in all pai'ts of Spanish America 
where mines exist. The main branch of the river becoming smaller, till it 
divided into almost innumerable streams that issued out of the valhes amongst 
these mountains ; the soil very light and sandy, of a reddish grey colour. We 
travelled on from the top of one mountain to the top of another, in hopes the 
one we were ascending was always the last, till the sm:Ul streams we met 
with ran the contrary way, towards the setting sun, and the lands declining 
that way. We continued on till the streams enlarged into a river of con- 
siderable size, and tiie country became level, well timbered, the soil a rich 
black loam ; the waters were all clear and well tasted. Here we found a 
gi-eat many diHerent tribes of the Hietan, Appaches and Concee Indians ; 
•we likewise fell in with them frequently from the time we had been a few 
days out from the Panis towns, and were always treated kindly by them. I 
believe the distance from the P.mis old towns to where we saw the last of 
Red river w.iter, is at least one hundred leagues ; and in crossing over the 
ridge, we saw no animals that were not common in all the country of Louis- 
iana, except t!ie spotted tyger, and a few w'lite l^car?. After spencUng some 
days on the western waters, we sat off fin' t;\e settlements of St. a Fe ; 
steering nearly a south east course, and ii) a few days were out .of the tim- 
bered covmtiy into prairie ; the country' became broken and hilly ; the waters 
all running westwardly ; the country cloathed with a luxuri:uit herbage, and 
frequently passing mines of silver ore. We arrived, at length, at a small, 
raeaaly built town in the St. a Fe settlejnent, containing about one hundi-ed 
houses, round which were some small, cultivated iields, fenced I'ound with 
sm.iU ccd ir and ni'isketo brush, wattled in stakes. This little town was on 
a smsdl streim of w.:ter that ran we.stwai'dly, and in a dr)' season scai'cely 
run at all, and that the inliabitants were obliged to water tlicir cattle from 
walls. And I understood that the bayau upon which this town is situated, 
was no part of Rio Grandi, but fell into the western ocean ; but of tliat I • 
might have been m'-staken. I understood that similar small towns, or mis- 
sions, were within certain distances of eacli other for a great extent southr 
wu'dly, towards Mexico ; and th.at the inhabitants were raostl}^ cimstianised 
Indians and Matiffs. That the mines in that settlement afforded very rich 
ore, which w.is taken away in large quantities, packed on nudes, and had the 
same appearance of wliat we met with about the head branches of Red river. 
After furnishing ourselves with horses at this place, we sat off again for tlie 
Panis towns, from whence we started, steering- at first soutliwardly, in order 
t) avoid a high, mountainous country th.at is difficult to cross, that lies be- 
tween St. a Fe and Red river. After travelling some distance south, we 
turned our c:)urse northeastwardly, and arrived at the Panis towns in eighteen 
days from the day we left St. a Fe settlements ; and three months and twen- 
ty days from the time we started." 

He ia of the opinion that from the Panis towns to St. a Fe, in a right line, 
is nearly three hundred miles, and all the country prairie, a few scattering 
'sedar knobs excepted. After he had finished his nai'rative, I asked him how 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. G» 

far Red river was boatable. He said, not much above the Panis old towns ; 
not that he knew of any pailicular lalls or obstructions, but that the head 
brandies of the river came from steep mountains, on which the rain often 
poured down in torrents, and runs into the river with such velocity, sweep- 
ing' along with it large quantities of loose earth, of which these hills and 
moiuitains are composed : that it rolls Uke a swell in the sea, and would 
either sink or carry along with it any boat that it might meet in the river. 
But, he observed at the same time, that his opinion was founded on no ex- 
periment that he had ever known made. I asked him if the Indians had no 
perogues high up in the i-iver. He told me^that the Indians tliere knew 
nothing of the use of them, for instead of there being for hundreds of milea 
a tree large enough for a canoe, one could scarcely be found large enough to 
make a fowl trough. I asked him what animals were found in the Great 
prairies. H^e told me, from Blue river, upwtirds, on both sides of Red river, 
there were innumerable quantities of wild horses, buff'alce, bears, wolves, 
elk, deer, foxes, sangliers or wild hogs, antclcpe, white hares, rabbits, &.c. 
and on the mou.ntairs the spotted tyger, pantlier, and wild cat. He farther 
told me, that about 23 years ago, he was emplo} ed by the governour of St. 
Antoine, to go li-om that place into some of the Indian nations that lived to- 
wards St. a Fe, who were at war with the Spaniards, to try to make a peace 
with them, and bring in some of the chiefs to St. Antoine. He sat off from 
that place with a party of soldiers, and was to have gone to St. a Fe ; tbey 
passed on a northwestwardly course for about 200 miles, but after getting 
into the Great Prairie, being a dry season, they were forced to turn back for 
want of water for themselves and horses, and that he does not know how 
near he went to St. a Fe, but believes he mig-ht have been halfway. 

The accounts given by Mr. Brevel, Mr. Grappe, and all other hunters with 
whom I have conversed, of the immense di'oves of animals that, at the be- 
ginning of winter, descend from the mountains down southwardly, iiito the 
timbered country, is almost incredible. They say the buffaloe and bear par- 
ticularly, are in droves of many thousands together, that blacken the whole 
surface of the earth, and continue passing, without intermission, for week» 
together, so that the whole surface of the country is, for many miles in breadth, 
trodden like a large road. I am, sir, 3cc. &,c. 

(Signed) JOHN SIBLEY. 

Natchitoches, 10th April, 1805. 

Distances uji Red river, by the course of the river. 

MILES. 

From the mouth of Red river to Black river, - - - 31 

to Baker's landing, lower end Avoyal - - - 51 

La Glee's ditto, upper end Avoyal, - - - - 15 

Rice's, ---..---. 6 

Hoomes's, 18 

Nicholas Grubb's, - - - . - - - 21 

mouth of bavau Rapide, 15 

- 15f 
Indian villages, -------- 22 

Mount Pleasant, Gillai-d's place, .... 7 

mouth of Rigula de Bondieu, 6 

* Mounete's plantation, - - . . . - 10 

mouth of Little river, 24 

bayau Brevel, 20 

Natchitochesj 20 

— 109 

264 



■i4 



AMSRZeAS STATE fAPERS. 



Brought over 

Grand Ecorc, -,. 10 

Compti, 20 

bayau Channo, - 15 

lake BIstino, through bayau Channo, .... 3 

through lake Bistmo to the upper end of Channo, - 60 

through ba3'au Daichet to t)ie river again, - . - 9 

late Caddo villages, where they lived 5 years ago, - 80 

Little river of the left, 80 

long prairie, right side, 25 

upper end of ditto, 25 

little priiu'ie, left side, 40 

upper end ditto, ....... 5 

pine bluff, right side, 12 

upper end, ditto, 5 

cedars, 15 

upper end ditto, and mouth of Little river of tlie right, 40 

round prairie, right side, (first fording place) - - 20 

lower end of long prairie, left side, - - - - 25 
upper end ditto, --....-40 

next prairie same side, ., 12 

upper end of the same, 20 

3 mile oak and pine bluff, 30 

Paean grove, 9 

upper end of the same, 6 

prairie next above the paeans, 40 

upper end of the same, ...... 25 

pine bluff right side, .-..-. 45 

vvliite oak bluff, ...--.- 15 

next prairie right side, .---.. 45 
upper end ditto, .--.-.-30 

bayau Galle, right side, ...-., 6 

mouth of Kiomitchie, or mine I'iver, - - - - 25 

pine bluff left side, 25 

bayau Kick, or Bois d'arc creek, - - - . 40 

the Vazzui'es, or Boggy river, right side, . - - 8 

Blue river, right side, ...... 5Q 

Faux Oacheto or Missouri branch, .... 25 

Panis or Towiache towns, 70 

Panis or ditto old towns, 150 

head branch of Red river, or dividing ridge, - - 309 

To which may be added for so much the distance being shortened by 
going tlirough lake Bistino, than the com-se of the river. 



266 



— 197 



— 175 



— 72 



— 162 



— 231 



668 



60 



1,831 



Computed length of Red river from where it falls into the Mississippi, 
to which add the distance from the mouth ofRed river to the ocean, 
by either the Mississippi, or the Cheffeli, which was once proba- 
bly the mouth of Red river, 320 



Total length of Red river, 



2.151 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERa. 



OBSERVATIONS 



65 



Made in a voyage co7nmencing at St. Catharine^s landings on the east 
bank of the Mississip/ii, proceeding doiunwarda to the mouth of 
Red river i and from thence aacending that river, the Black river, 
a7id the Washita river, as high as the hot springs in the jiroximity 
of the last mentioned river ; extracted from the Journals of William 
Dunbar, Esq. and Doctor Hunter. 

MR. DUNBAR, Doctor Hunter, and the party employed by the United 
States to make a survey of, and explore the country traversed by the Washita 
river, left St. Cathai'ine's landing',, on the Mississippi, in latitude 3 i°. 26'. 30". 
N. and longitude 6h. 5'. 56". W. from the meridian ofGi-eenwich, on Tuesday 
the 16th of October, 1804. A little distance below St. Catharine's creek, 
and 5 leagues from Natches, they passed the White Cliffs, composed chiefly 
of sand, surmounted by pine, and from 100 to 200 feet high. When thct 
waters of the Mississippi are low, the base of the cliff is imcovered, whicli 
consists of different coloured clays, and some beds of ochre, over which 
tliere lies, in some places, a thin lamina of ii'on ore. Small springs possess- 
ing a petrifying quality flow over the clay and ochre, and numerous logs i.nd 
pieces of timber, converted into stone, are strewed about the beach. Fines 
pure argil of viu-ious colours, chiefly white and red, is found here. 

On the 17th they arrived at the mouth of Red river, tlie confluence of 
which with the Mississippi, agi'eeably to the observations of Mr. de Fcn-er, 
lies in latitude 31°. 1'. \l". N. and longitude Ox. V- 11". W. of Greenwich. Red 
river is here about 300 yards wide, and without any sensible current. The 
banks of the river are clothed with willow ; tlie land low and subject to in- 
undation, to the height of 30 feet or more above the level of the water at 
this time. The mouth of the Red river is accounted to be 75 leagues from 
New-Orleans, and 3 miles higher up tlian the Chaf;daya, or Opelousa river, 
which was probably a continuation of the Red river when its waters did not 
unite with those of the Mississippi but during the inundation. 

On the 18th the sm-vey of the Red river was commenced, and on the 
evening of tlie 19th the party arrived at the moutli of the Black river, in 
latitude 31°. It'. 48". N. and about 26 miles from the Mississippi. The Red 
river derives its name from tlie rich fat earth, or marie, of that colour, borne 
down by the floods ; the last of wliich appeared to have deposited on the 
liigh bank a stratum of upwards of hiJf an inch in thickness. The vegeta- 
tion on its banks is surprisingly luxuriant ; no doubt owing to the deposition 
of marie during its annual floods. The willows grow tf) a good size ; but 
other forest trees are much smaller than those seen on the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi. As you advance up the river, it gradually narrows ; in latitude 
31°. OL'. N. it is about 200 yards wide, which width is continued to the moutit 
of Black river, where each of them appears 150 yai-ds across. The b^nks 
of the river are covered with pea vine and several sorts of grass, bearing' 
seed, which geese and ducks eat very greedily ; and there are generally 
seen willows growing on one side, and on the other a small growth of black 
oak, packawn, hickoiy, elm, &c. The current in the Red river is so moder, 
ate as scarcely to afford an impediment to its ascent. 

On sounding the Black river a little above its mouth, there was foimd 20 
feet of water, with a bottom of black sand. The water of Bl-.ick river ■•* 
rather clearer than that of the Ohio, and of a warm temperature, which it 
may receive from the water flowing into it from the valley of the Mississippi, 
particularly by the Catahoola. At noon on the 23d, by a ij'ood meridian ob- 
' Vol III Appendix. I 



66 American state patehs. 

serv.ition, they ascertained their latitude to be 30°. 36'. 2^". N. and were then 
a little bciov/ tlie moutlis of the Cutahoola, Washita and Bayau Tenza, the 
united w.iters of v/liich form tlie Black river. Tlie current is very gentle 
tlje whole kng-th of tiie Black river, which in many places does not exceed 
80 yards in w.dtii. Tlie banks on tlie lower part of the river present a great 
luxuiiance of vci^-ctation and n.nk grass, with rod and black oak, ash, pac- 
kawn, liickory, and some elms.* The soil is black iiiarle, mixed with a 
modcr;ite proportion of sand, resembling n>uch ti\e soil on the Mississippi 
banks ; yet the forest trees are not lofty, like those on the mar&in of the 
gre it river, but resembling the growth on the Red river. In latitude 31®1 
2 J. 4^"". N. they observed that canes grew on several parts of the right bank, 
ji proof that the land is not deeply overflowed ; pevhaps^ from one to three 
feet : the banks have the appearance of stability ; very little -sriUow, or other 
productions of a newly formed soil being seen on either side. OnndA-ancing 
up the river, tlie timber becomes larger, in some places rising to the height 
of 40 feet ; yet the land is liable to be inundated, not from the waters of this 
small river, but from the intrusion of its more powerful neighbour tlie Mis- 
sissippi. The lands decline rapidly, as in all alluvial countries, from the 
margin to tlie Cypress swamps, where more or less water stagnates all the 
year round. On the 21st they passed a small, but elevated island, said to be 
the only one in thi» river for more than 100 leagues ascending. On the left 
bank, near this island, a small settlement of a ouple of acres has been begun 
fey a man and his wife. The banks are not less than 40 feet above the pre- 
sent level of the water in the river, and are but rarely overflowed : on both 
sides they are clothed with rich cane brake, pierced by creeks fit to carry 
boats during the inundation. 

They saw many cormjrants, and the hooping crane ; geese and ducks are 
not yet abundant, bat are said to arrive in myriads with the rains and win- 
ter's cold. They shot a fowl of the duck Idnd, wliose foot was partially 
divided, and the body covered with a bluisli or lead coloured plumage. On 
the morning of the twenty-second, they observed green matter floating on 
the river, supposed to come from the Catahoola and other lakes and baya\i3 
of stagTiant wate", which, when raised a little by rain, flow into the Black 
river ; and also many patches of an aqi':itic plant, resembliiig small islands, 
some floating on tlie surface of the river, and otliers adhering to, or rest- 
ing on the shore and logs. On examining this plant, it was foimd a liollow, 
jointed stem, witii roots of the same form, extrertiely light, with very nai*- 
row Willow .shaped leaves projecting from the joint, embracing however, 
the whole of the tulic, and extending to the next inferior joint or knot. 
The extifcmity of-each branch is terminiitedby a spike of very slender, nar- 
row seminal leaves fiv>m one to two inches in length,, and one tenth, or less, 
in breadth, producing its seed on the underside of the leaf, in a double row 
almost in contact : the grains alternately placed in perfect regul;U"ity : not be- 
ing able to find the flowei", its class and order could not be determined, al- 
though it is not jirobably new. Towards the upper part of the Black river, 
the shore abounded with muscles and peri wuikles. The muscles were of 
the kind called pearl mustles. The men dressed a quantity of them, con- 
sidering them as an agreeable food ; but Mr. D. found them tough and 
unpalatable. 

* Among the plants growing on the mar^'n of tlie river is the cheria root, used in medicine, 
and the cantar, occasionally used by the hunters for fond ; the Ust has a bulbous root, ten 
times the size of a man's fist. In picpariiifj it, they first wash it clean from the earth, then 
pound it well, and add water to the nias> and stir it up ; after a moment's settlement the water 
and fecula is poured clT : this operation is repeated until it yields no more ftcuJa, the fibrous 
part only heinj> left, which is thrown awav as useless : the water is then poured from the sedi- 
ment, which is dried in the snn, and wilt keep a long time. It is reduced into powder and 
mixed with Indian meal or fioiir, .ind makes wholesome and agreeable food. The labour is 
jierformed bv the women whilst Ihey are keeping the camp, and theur husband* are in tfie 
woods hunting. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 67 

On arriving at the mouth of the Ci'.tphoola, tl'.ey landed to procure infor. 
ination fVom a Frcnclinian settled thcic. H;i\ln{j a gTMiit ii-on» the Spanisli 
^vf rnmeiit, he has roade a smail settUiuciit, and keeps a ferry -h')at for 
carrying over men and liorses trax-elling- to and from Nrdche/., and the 
settlements on Red river and on the Washita i-iver. The coimtry lu're is 
all alluvial. In process of time, the rivers siiutting- np ancient p:iss;'ges and 
elevating the hanks over which their waters pass, no longer communicate 
*vith the same facility as j'oi nierly ; the conseciuence is, tliat many lai-ger 
tracts formerly siibjeut to inundation, are now entirely exempt from that 
inconvenience. Such is the situation of a most valuahle tract upon wliich 
tins Frenchman is settled. His house stands on an Indian mount, with 
several others in view. There is ako a s])ei:ies of rampart surrounding- this 
place, and one very elevated mount, a view and description of which is 
postponed till tliey return ; tJieir present situation not allowing of the re- 
quisite delay-. The soil is equal to the best Mississippi bottoms.* 

They obtained from the French scttkr the following list of distances be- 
tween the moutli of the Red rivci' and the post on the Washita, called fort 
Miro. 

From tlie laouth of Red river to the mouth of Black river 10 leagues. 

To the mouth of Catahoola, Washita, and Tenza, - - 22 

To the river Ha-ha, on the riglit, 1 

To the Prairie de Villemcnt, on the same side, - - . 5 

To the bayau Louis, on tlie same side, rapids here, - - 1 

To bayau Bceufs, on the same side, 4 

To the Prairie Noyu, (drowned savanna), 3 

To Pine Point, on the left, --.-...-.. 4^ 

To bayau Calimiet, 3^ 

To the Coalmine, on the right, and Gypsum on the oppo- 
site shore, .--......-..., 3 

To the first settlement, 12 

To fort Miro, 22 

Leagues, 91 

From this place they proceedetTto the mouth of Washita, in lat. o.5' 3"' 
y/* N. and encamped on tlie evening of the 23d. 

This river derives its appellation from the name of an Indian tribe for- 
merly resident on its banks ; the remnant of which, it is said, went into the 
gi-eat plains to the westwai-d, and either compose a small tribe themselves, 
or are incorporated into another nation. The Black river loses its name at 
the junction of the Washita, Catahoola, and Tenza, although our maps re- 
present it as taken place of the Washita. The Tenza and Catahoola are al- 
so named from Indian tribes now extinct. The latter is a creek twelve 
leagues long, which is the issue of a lake of the same name, eight leagues ini 
length and about two leagues in breadth. It lies west from the mouth of 
the Catahoola, and communicates with the Red river during the great an^ 
nual inundation. At the west or nortli-west angle of the lake, a creek call- 
ed Little river, enters, which presei'ves a channel with running water at all 
seasons, meandering along the bed of the lake ; but in all other parts it« 

* There is an embankment running from the Catahoola to Black river (incloflng about 
two hundred acres of rich land), at prefent about ten' feet high, and ten feet broad. Thi? 
furrounds four large mounds of earth at the diltance of a bow (hot from each other: each 
of which may be twenty feet high, one hundred feet broad, and three hundred feet long at 
the top, befides a (lupendous turret fituate on the back part of the whole, or farthelt from 
the water, whofc bafe covers about an acre of ground, rinng by two fteps or ftories tapering 
In the afcent, the whole furmounted by a great cone with its top cut off. Tlii» tower o? 
evth ou admcafurement was found to be eighty feet perpendicular. 



68 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

superfices, during the dry season from July to November, and often later, 
IS completely drained, and becomes covered with the most luxm*ious her- 
bag-e ; the bed of the lake then becomes the residence of immense herds of 
deer, of turkeys, g-eese, crane, &.c. which feed on the grass and grain. 
Bayau Tenza ser^es only to di-ain off" a part of the waters of the inunda- 
tion from the low Iruids of the Mississippi, which here communicate with 
the Black river during- the season of high water. 

Between the mouth of the Washita andVillemont's prairie on the right, the 
ciu-rent of the river is gentle, and the banks favourable for towing-. The 
lands on both Fides have the appearance of being above tlie inundation ; 
the timl^er generally such as high lands produce, being chiefly red, white 
and black oaks inters-persed with a variety of other trees. The magno- 
lia grandifl.v-a, tliat infallible sig-n of tlie land not being subject to inunda- 
tion, is not, however, among them. Along tlie banks a stratum of solid 
clay, or marie, is obsei-vable, appai-ently of an ancient deposition. It lies 
in oblique positions, making- an angle of nearly thirty degrees with the 
horizon, and generally inclined with tlie descent of the river, although in a 
few cases the position was contrary. Timber is seen projecting from under 
the solid bank, which seems uidui-ated, and unquestionably very ancient, 
presenting a very different appearance from recently formed soil. The ri- 
ver is about 80 yards wide. A league above the mouth of the Washita, 
the bayau Ha-lia conies in unexpectedly from the right, and is one of the 
mn.ny passages thi-ough which the waters of the great inundation penetrate 
and pervade all the low countries, annihilating, for a time, the currents of 
the lesser rivers in the neighbourhood of tlie Mississippi. The vegetation 
is remarkably vigorous along the alluvial banks which are covered with a 
tliick shrubbery, and innumerable plants in full blossom at this late 
season. 

Villemont's prairie is so named in consequence of its being included witl - 
in a giant under the French government to a gentleman of that name. 
Many other parts on the Washita are named after their early proprietors. 
The French people projected and began extensive settlements on this river, 
but the gencTal massacre planned, and in part executed by the Indians 
against tiiem, and the consequent destruction of the Natchez tribe by the 
French, broke up all these undertakings and they were not recommenced 
imder IJiat government. Those pairies are plains, or savannas, without 
timber ; generally very fertile, and producing an exuberance of sti'ong, 
thick and coarse herbage. When a piece of ground has once got into this 
state, in an Indian country, it can have no opportunity of re-producing tim- 
ber, it being an invarialile practice to set fire to the dry grass in the fall or 
winter, to obtain the advantage of attracting game when the young tender 
grass begins to spring : this destroys the young timber, and the prairie an- 
nually gains upon the wood-land. It is probable that the immense plains 
known to exist in America, may owe their origin to this custom. The 
plains of the Washita lie chiefly on the east side, and being generally form- 
ed like the Mississippi land, sloping from the bank of the river to the great 
river, they are more or less subject to inundation in the rear ; and in cer- 
tain great floods tlie water has advanced so far as to be ready to pour over 
the margin into the Wasliita. This has now become a very rare thing, 
and it may he estimated thnt from a quarter of a mile to a mile in depth, 
will remain free from inundation during high floods. This is pretty much 
the case with those lands nearly as jiigh as tlie post of the Washita, with 
the exception of certain ridges of primitive higli-land ; tlie rest being evi- 
dently alluvial, althougli not now subject to be inundated by the Washita 
river in consequence of the great depth which the bed of the river has ac- 
quired by abrasion. On approaching toward the bayau Louis, which 
empties its watc"s into tlie Washita oh the right, a little below tlie rapids 
there is a g:reat deal of high land on both sides, which prcd>j.ces pine and 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 69 

•ther timber not the growth of inundated lands. At the foot of the rapids 
the navig-iition of the river is impeded by beds of gravel formed in it. The 
first rapids lie in latitude 31". 41'. 51". 5 N. a little above which there is a 
liigh ridge of jirimitive earth, studded witii abundance of fi-agmcnts of 
rocks, or stone, which ap])cars to have been thrown up to tlie surface in a 
very irregular manner. Tiie stone is of a friable natvu-e, some of it baring 
the appearance of indurated clay ; the outside is blackish from exposiu-e tq 
the air, within it is a greyish white ; it is said that in the hill tlie strata are re- 
gidai" and that good grindstones may be here obtained. The last of the ra- 
pids, which is formed by a ledge of rocks crossing the entire bed of the ri- 
ver, was passed in tiie evening- of the 27th ; above it the water became 
again hke a mill pond and about one hundred }'ards wide. T'he whole of 
these first shoals, or rapivls, embraced an extent of about a mile and a half ; 
the obstruction was not continued, but felt at short intervals in this dis- 
tance. On the right, about four leagues from the rapids, they passed tlie 
" Bayau Aux Boeufs," a little above a rocky hill : high lands and savanna 
is seen on the riglit. On sounding the liver they found three fathoms wa- 
ter on a bottom of mud and s;ind. The banks of the river, iibove the bayau 
seem to retain very little alluvial soil ; the highland earth, which is a sandy 
loam of a light grey colour, with streaks of red sand and clay, is seen on 
the left bank ; the soil not rich, bearing pines, intersper.^ed with red oak, 
hickory and dogwood. The river is from sixty to one hundred jards wide 
Jiere, but decreases as you advance. The next rapid is made by a ledge of 
rocks traversing the river, and narrowing the water channel to about thirty 
yards. The width between the high banks ciUinot be less than one hundi*ed 
yards, and the br.nks from thirty to forty feet higli. In latitude 31.°. 11'. 
li,''. rapids and shoals again occiuTed, and the channel was \ery narrow; 
the sand bars at every point extended so far into the bend as to leave little 
more than the breadth of the boat of water sufliciently deep for her pas- 
sage, although it spreads over a width of seventy or eighty j'ards upon tlio 
shoal. 

In the afternoon of the Slst, they passed a little plantation or settlement 
on the right, and at night arrived at three others adjouiing each other. These 
settlements are on a plain or prairie, the soil of wliich we may be assured is 
alluvial from the regulai* slope wliich tl;e land has from the river. The bed 
of the river is now sufficiently deep to free tliem from tlie inconvenience of 
its inundation ; yet in the rear the waters of the Mississippi approach, and 
sometimes leave dry but a narrow stripe along the bank of the river. It is 
however now more common, that the extent of the fields cultivated (from -J 
to ^ mile) remains dry during the season of inundation ; the soil here is 
very good, but not equal to the Mississippi bottoms ; it may be esteemed 
second rate. At a small distance to the east are extensive cjpress swamps, 
over which the waters of the inundation alwa)s stand to the depth of fi'om 
fifteen to twenty -five feet. On tlije west side, after passing over the valley 
of tiie river Avhose breadth varies from a qiuirter of a mile to two miles, or 
more, the land assumes a considerable elevation, from one hundred to three 
hundred feet, and extends all along to tlie settlements of the Red river. 
These high lands are reported to be pcMir, and badly watered, being chiefly 
v.liat is termed pine barren. There is here a ferry and road of communica- 
tion between the post of the Washita, and the Natchez, and a fork of this 
r.iad passes on to tiie settlement called the rapids, on Red river^ distant 
from this place by computation one hundred and fifty miles. 

On this part of the river lies a considerable tr;«t of land granted by the 
Spanish government to tlie marquis of Maison Rouge, a French emigrant, 
vho bequeathed it with all his property to M. Bouligny, son of the late 
colonel of the Louisiana regiment, and by him sold to Daniel Clarke. It 
\A said to extend from tlie post of Washita with a breadtji of two leagues, 
including the river, down to the bayau Calumet ; ti'.e computed distance of 



fO AK^RICAN STATE PAPERS. 

which along the river is called thirty leagues, but supposed not more than 
twelve in a direct line. 

On the 6th of November, in the afternoon, the party arrived at the post of 
the Washita, in lat. 3i° 2&' 3/". 25 N. where they were politely received 
by lieut. Bowmaj% who immediately offered the hospitaUty of his dwelling 
with all the services. in his power. 

From the ferry to this place the navigation of the river is, at this season, 
interrupted by many shoals and rapids. The general width is from eighty to 
a hundi'ed yards. The water is extremely agreeable to di-ink, and much 
clearer than that of the Ohio. In tliis respect it is very unlike its two 
neighbours, tJie Ai'kansa and Red rivers, whose waters are loaded with 
earthy matters of a reddish brown calor, giving to them a chocolate-lika 
appearance ; and, when those waters are low, are not potable, being brack- 
js!i from tlic great number of salt springs wliicli flovi' into them, and pro- 
bably from tlie beds of rock salt over which they may pass. The banks of 
tlie river presented very little appearance of aUuvial land,but furnished an in« 
fijTiitude of beautiful landscapes, heightened by the vivid coloring they de» 
rive from the autumnal changes of tiie leaf Mr. Dunbar observes, that 
the chang-e of colour in the leaves of vegetables, which is probably occasion* 
ed by the ox\ gen of the atmospliere acting on the vegetable matter, depi'i» 
ved of the proLCCting power of the vital principle, may serve as an excellent 
guide to tlie naturalist who directs his attention to the discovery of new 
objects for the use of the dyer. For he has always remarked tliat the 
leaves of those trees wliose bark or wood are known to produce a dye, are 
changed in autumn to the same color wliich is extracted in tlie dyers vat 
from the woods ; more especially by the use of mordants, as alhmi, &c. 
which yields oxygen : tlius the foliage of the hickory, and oak, which pro- 
duces tlie quercitron bark, is changed before its fall into a beautiful yellow { 
other oaks assume a fiiwn color, a liver color, or a blood color, and are 
known to yield dyes of the same complexion. 

In lat. o!i,° IL' N. doct. Hunter discovered along the river side a sub- 
stance nearly resembhng mineral coal : its appearance was that of the car- 
bonated wood described by Kirwan. It does not easily bm'u ; but on being 
applied to the fiame of a candle, it sensibly increased it, and yielded a 
faint smell, resembling in a slight degree, that of the gum lac of common 
ggalijig wax. 

Soft friable stone is common, and great quantities of gravel and sand, 
upon the beaches in this part of the river. A reddish clay appears in the 
strata, much indurated and blackened by exposure to the light and 
air. 

The position called fort Miro being the property of a pi-ivate person, 
who was formerly civil commandant here, the lieutenant lias taken post 
about four hundred yards lower ; has built himself some log houses, and 
inclosed them with a slight stockade. Upon viewing the countiy east of 
the river, it is evidentl}' alluvial ; the surface has a gentle slope from the 
river to the rear of the plantations. The land is of excellent quality, being 
a rich black mould to tlie depth of a foot, under wliich tliere is a friabl^ 
loam of a brownish liver colour. 

At the post of the Washita, they procured a boat of less draught of wa- 
ter than the one in which they ascended the river thus far ; at noon, on the 
11th of November, they proceeded on the voyage, and in the evening en- 
pamped at the plantation of Baron Bastrop. 

This small settlement on the Washita, and some of the creeks falling 
into it, contains not more than five hundred persons, of all ages and sexes. 
It l.s reported, however, that there is a great quantity of excellent land 
upon these creeks, and that the settlement is capable of great extension, 
and may be expected, with an accession of population, to become very flou- 
rishing. There are three merchants gettled at the post, who supplj', at very 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. tl 

exorbitant prices, the inhabitants with their necessaries; these, witli the 
garrison, two small planters, and a tradesman or two, tonstftiite the pre- 
sent vlllag^e. A great proportion of tlie inhabitants coiitiinie tlie old prac- 
tice of hunting, during tlie winter season, and they exchange tlieir j)eltry 
for necessaries, witli the merchants, at a low rate. Diu-ing the summer 
these people content themselves with raising corn, barely sufficient for 
bread during tlie yeai*. In this manner they always remain extremely poor : 
some few who have conquered that habit of indolence, -which is alwaj s the 
consequence of the Indiim mode of life, and attend to agrJcultui'e, live more 
comfortably, and taste a little the sweets of civilized life. 

The lands along the river above the post, are not very wivitlng, being a^ 
thin poor soil, and covered with pine wood. To the riglit, the settlements 
pn the bayaU Barthelemi and Siard, are said to be rich land. 

On the morning of the 13th, they passed an island and a strong rapid, and 
arrived at a little settlement below a chain of rocks, which cross the channel 
between an island and the main land, called Roque Raw. The Spaniai-d 
and his family, settled here, appear, from their indolence, to live miserably. 
The river acquires here a more spacious appearance, being about one hun- 
dred and fifty yards wide. In the afternoon they passed the bayau Bar- 
thelemi on the right, above the last settlements, and about twelve computed 
leagues from the post. Here commences Bai'on Bastrop's great grant of 
land from the Spanish government, being a square of twelve leagues on 
each side, a little exceeding a million of French acres. The banks of the 
river continue about thirty feet high, of which eighteen feet from the water 
are a clayey loam of a pale ash colour, upon which the water lias deposited 
twelve feet of light sandy soil, apparently fertile, and of a dark brown colpr. 
Tliis description of land is of small breadth, not exceeding half a mile on 
each side of the river, and may be called the valley of the Washita, beyond 
which there is high land covered with pines. 

The soil of the " Bayau des Buttes," continues thin %vith a growth of 
small timber. This creek is named from a number of Indian mounts dis- 
covered by the hunters along its course. The margin of the river begins to 
be covered with such timber as usually grows on inundated land, particularly 
a .species of white oak, vulgarly called the over-cup oak ; its timber is remark- 
ably hard, solid, ponderous and durable, and it produces a large acorn in great 
abundance, upon which the bear feeds, and which is very fattening to liogs. 

In lat. 32° 5C' t" N. they passed a long and narrow island. The face of 
the country begins to change ; the banks are low and steep ; tlie river deep- 
er and more contracted, from thirty to fifty yards in width. Tlie soil in tiie 
neighborhood of the river is a very sandy loam, and covered with such ^ c- 
getables as are found on the inundated lands of the Mississippi. The tracts 
presents the appearance of a new soil, very different from what they passed 
below. This alluvial tract may be supposed the site of a great lake, draineif 
by a natural channel, from tlie abrasion of the waters : since which period 
the annual inundations have deposited tlie superior soil ; eighteen or fAven- 
ty feet is wanting to render it habitable for man. It appears, nevertheless, 
■well stocked with the beasts^^f the forest, several of wliich were seen. 

Qiiantities of water fowl are beginning to make their appearance, which 
are not very numerous here until the cold rains and frost compel them to 
leave a more northern climate. Fish is not so abundant as might be expect- 
ed, owing, it is said, to the inundation of the Mississippi, in tlie year 1799, 
which dammed up the Washita, some distance above the post, and produc- 
ed a stagnation and consequent corruption of the waters that desti'oyed all 
the fish within its influence. 

^ At noon on the 15th November, they passed the island of Mallet, and at 
ninety yards north-cast from the upper point of the island, by a good obser. 
vation ascertained their latitude to be 32" 5^J 27" 5 N. or tv>ro seconds and 
a half of latitude south of the dividing- line between the territories of Or- 



72 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

leans and Louisiana. The bed o£ the river along this alluvial country, i* 
^^enerally covered with water, and the navigation uninterrupted ; but in 
tlie ailernoon of this day, they passed three contiguous sand bars, or beach- 
es, called " les ti-ois battures," and before evening the ' ' briyau de grand 
M vrais," or great marsli creek on tlie riglit, and " la Cypreri Chattelrau," 
a point of high land on the other side, which reaches v.'-ithin half a mile of 
the river. As they advanced towards the marais de saline, on the right, a 
stratum of dirty white clay under the alluvial ti'act, shewed them to be 
leaving the sunken, and approaching' the high land country. The saltlick 
marsh does not derive its name from any brackishuess in the water of the 
lake or marsh, but from its contiguity to some of the licks, sometimes call- 
ed " saline," and sometimes " glaise," generally found in a clay, compact 
enougli for potters' ware. The bayau de la Tulipe forms a communication 
between the lake and the river. Opposite to this place, there is a point of 
h\"-h land, ibrming a promontory, advancing within a mile of the river, and 
to which boats i-esort wlien the low grounds are under water. A short 
league above is the mouth of the grand bayau de la Saline (Salt Lick 
creek). This creek is of a considerable lengtli, and navigable for small 
boats. The hunters ascend it, to one hundred of their leagues, in pursuit 
of "-ame, and all agree that none of tlie springs which feed tills creek are 
salt. It has obtained its name from the many buffaloe salt licks which have 
been discovei-ed in its vicinity. Altlunigh most of these licks, by digging, 
furnish water which holds marine salt in solution, there exists no reason for 
believing that many of them would produce nitre. Notwithstanding this 
low alluvial tract appears in all respects well adapted to the growth of tlie 
long moss (tilandsia), none was obsered since entering it in latitude 32" 
5Z', and as the pilot informed them none wovdd be seen in their progress 
up the river, it is probable that the latitude of thirty -three degrees is about 
the northern limit of vegetation. The long-leaf pine, frequently the 
growth of rich and even inundated land, was liere observed in great abun- 
dance : the short -leaved or pitch jnne, on the contrary, is always found 
upon arid lands and generally in sandy and lofty situations. 

This is the season when the poor settlers on the Wasluta turn out to 
make tlielr annual hunt. The deer is now fat and the skins in perfection ; 
tlie bear is now also in his best state, wltli regard to the quality of his fur, 
and the quantltv of fiit or oil he yields, as lie has been feasting luxuriantly 
on the autumnal fruits of the ibrest. It is here well known tliat he does not 
confine himself, as some writers have supposed, to vegetable food -, he is 
pai-ticularly fond of hogs flesh ; slieep and calves are frequently his prey, 
and no animal escapes him which comes wltliin his power, and which he 
is able to conquer. He often destro\'s the fawn when chance throws it in 
his wa\' ; he cannot however, discover it by smelling, notwithstanding the 
excellence of his scent, for natui-e has, as if for its protection, denied tlie 
fawn the property of leaving any effluvium upon its track, a property so 
po\vcrful in the old deer.* Tlie bear, unlike most other beasts of ]jrey, 
does not kill the animal he has seized upon before he eats it ; but regardless 
of its struggles, cries and lamentations, fastens upon, and if the expression 
Is allowable, devoiu-s it alive. The hunters toimt much on their profits^ 
from the oil drawn from the bears fat, which, at New Orleans, is always of 
rcadv sale, and much esteemed for its wholesomeness in cooking, being pre- 
ferred to butter or hogs lard. It is found to keep longer than any other 
animal oil without becoming rancid ; and boiling it, from time to time, up- 
on sweet bay leaves, restores it sweetness, or facilitates its conservation. 

* It may not be frenerally known to naturalilts, that between the hoof of the deer, &c. there 
is found a fack, with its mouth inclining upwards, containing more or lefs of rauflc, and which, 
by efcapinK over the opening, in proportion to the fecretion, caufe<i the foot to leave a fcent on 
the eround wherever it paffes. During the rutting feafon this mufk is fo abuadant, particulatly 
ifl old males, as to be fmelt by the hunters at a conftderable diitance. 



AMERICAN STATS FA?£RS. 73 

tn the afternoon of tlie 17th they passed some sand beaches, and over a 
few rapids. They had cane brakes on both sides of the river ; the cane* 
were small but demonsUMte that the water does not surmount the bank 
more than a few feet. The river begins to widen as they ;:dvanc« : the 
banks of the river shevr the high land soil, witli a stratum of tLuee or four 
feet of alluvion deposited by the river upon it. This superstratum is giey- 
ish,and very sandy, with a small admixtui-e of loam,mdicative of tiie poverty 
o:" the mountains luid uplands where the river I'ises. Near this they passed 
through a new and very narrow channel, in which all the water of the river 
passes, except in time of freshes, when tlxe interval forms an island. A 
little above this pass is a small clearing, called " Cache la Tulipe" (Tulip's 
hiding place) ; thisi.'i the name of a French hunter who here conceded his 
property. It continues the practice of both the white and red hunters to 
leave their skins, &c. often suspended to poles, or laid over a pole placed up- 
on two foi'ked posts, in sight of the river, initil their reUirn fj-om hunting. 
These deposits are considered as sacred, and few examples exist of theh" 
being plundered. After passing the entrance of a bay, which within 
must form a great lake during the inundation, great numbers of the long 
leaf pine weie obsei-ved ; and the increased size of the canes along the ri- 
ver's bank, de/ioted a better and more elevated soil ; on the left was a high 
hill (300 feet) covered with lofty pine trees. 

The banks of the river present more the appearan'-e of upland soil, the 
under stratuin being a pale yellowish clay, ?.nd tlie alluvial soil of a illrty 
white, sm'mounted with a thin covering of a brown vegetable eaii-h. The 
trees improve in appearance, growing to a considerable size and lieight, 
tliough yet inferiour to those on the alluvj.j banks of the Mississippi. After 
passing the ".Bayau de Hachis," on the left, points of high land, not sitbject ta 
be overflowed, frequently touch the river and the valley is gaid to be more 
than a league in breadth on both sides. On the left ai-e pine hills called 
" Code de Champiguole." The river is not more than hfty or sixty yfU'ds 
wide. On the morning of the 20th they passed a number of sand beaches, 
and some rapids, but found good depth of water between them. A creek 
called " Cliemin Couvert," wliich forms a deep ravii\e in the high Unds, 
here enters the river ; almost immediately above tins is a rapid v/hcre the 
Water in the river is conlined to a channel of about forty yards in widtli ; 
above it they had to quit the main channel, on account of the shallowness 
and rapidity of the water, and pass along a narrow channel of only sixty feet 
wide : without a guide a stranger might take this passage for a creek. 

Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, and the northern latitude 
they were in, they this day met v/ith an alligator. The banks of the river 
are covered with cane, or thick under brush, frequently so interwoven with 
thorns and briars as to be impenetrable. Birch, maple, holly, and two kinds 
of wood to which names have not yet been given, except " w iter side wood," 
are here met with ; as also persimons and small black grapes. The niiu-gin 
of the river is fringed with a variety of plants and vines, among which ^.r^ 
several species of convolvulus. 

On the left they passed a hill and cllfF one hundred feet peipendicular, 
Towned with pines, and called " Cote de Finn" (Fin's hill) from which a 
chain of high land continues some distance. The ciifF presents the appear- 
ance of an ash coloured clay. A little flirtlier to the right is the Bayau 
d'Acasia (Locust creek). The river varies here from eighty to an hundred 
yards in width, presenting frequent indications of iron along its banks, i-.nd 
some thin strata of iron ore. The ore is from half an inch to thr^e inches 
in thickness. 

Vol. III. Appendix. K 



,y* AMERICAN STAT« PAH:R». 

. On the morning of the 22d of November, they arrived'at the road of fli* 
Chadiiduqais Indian nation leading- to the Arkansa nation ; a Uttie beyond 
this is tiie Ecor a Fabri (Fabri's cl'.tt's) from 80 to 100 feet lugh ; and a iitti<.> 
distance above, a smaller cliti' called " Le Petit Ecor a Faijri" (the Little 
Cliti' of Fabri) : these cliMs ap]jear chiefly to be composed of ash coloui-ed 
sand, with a sttatuni of clay at the base, such as runs ail along- under the- 
banks of this river. Above tliese chtfs .'u-e several n.pids ; t]>,e cui-rent is 
swifter, and denotes tlieir ascent into a higher country : the water becomes 
clear, and equal to any in its very ag-reeable taste and as drinking- -water. In 
the river are immense beds of g-ravel and sand, over which the -W^att-r passes 
■with gTt'eat v elocity in the season of its floods, carrying -with it v;ist quantities 
of drift wood, which it piles up, in many places, to the height of twenty 
feet above the present surface, pointing out the difficulty and danger of na- 
vigation in certain times of the flood ; accidents, however, are rare witJi 
the canoes of the country. 

As the party ascended they found the banks of the river less elevated, be- 
ing only from nine to twelve feet and are probably surmounted by the freshes 
^ome feet. The river becomes more obstructed by rapids, arid sand' and 
gi-avel beaches, among \\'hirh are found fragments of stone of all forms, and 
a variety of ajkums, some higlily polished and rounded by friction. TJie banks 
of the river in this upper country sutter greatly by abrasion, orie side and 
•ometimes both being' broken down by every fiuod. 

At a place called " Autjes d'Arclon," (Arclon's troughs) is laminated 
iron ore, and a stratimi of black siuid, \ery tenacious, shining with )ninute 
chrystals. The breadth of tlie river is liei'e about eighty yards : in some 
places, however, it is enlarged by islands, in others, contr;icted to eighty or 
©ne hundred feet. Rocks of a greyish colour, and ratlier friable, are here 
found in miiny places on tlie ri\er.* On the banlcs grow willows of a differ- 
ent form froni those foimd below, and on the margin of the Mississippi ; the 
last are very brittle ; these, on the contrary, are extremely pliant, resembUng 
the osier, of wliich tjiey are probabl}' a species. 

At noon on the 24th, tliey arrived at the confluence of the lesser Missou- 
ri with the Washita ; the former is a considerable brand), pei-haps the fourth 
of the Wasliita, and comes in fi-om the left hand. The hmiters often ascend 
the Little Missouri, but are not inclined to penetrate far up, because it 
readies near the great plai-ns or prairies upon the Red river, visited by ths 
lesser Os-ige tribes of Indians, settled on Arkansa ; these last frec[uently 
carry war into the Chadadoquis tribe settled on the Red river, about west, 
south-west from this place, and indeed tliey are reported not to spare any na- 
.tion or people. They are pre verited from visiting the head waters of the 
Washita by the steep hills in wliich they rise. Tliese mountains are so dif- 
ficult to travel over, that the savages not having an object suflScicntly desir- 
able, never attempt to penetrate to this river, and it is supposed to be un- 
known to the nation. The Cadadoquis (or Cada-ax, as the French pronounce 
tlie word) may be considered as Spanish Indians ; they boast, and it is said 
with trutii, that tliey never have imbrued their hands in the blood of a white 
Hian. It is said that the stream of tlie Little Missouri, some distance from 
its mouth, flows over a bright splendid bed of mineral of a yellowish white 
colour, (most probably martial p\Tites) Uuit thirty years ago, several of the 
inhabitants, luniters, worked upon this mine, and sent a cfuantity of the ore 
to the government at New Orleans, and they were proliibited froiii worlcing 
any more. ' ' ■ 

There is a great sameness in the appearance of the river banks : the is- 
lands are skirted with osier, and immediately within, on the bank, grows a 

* The banks rise into hill* of free stone of a very sharp arid fine grit, fit for grind stone*. 
The strata irregular, inclining from 20 degreea to 30 degrees down the riv«r. 



AMERICAN STATE ?APERS. 7i 

rang-e of birch trees and some wallows ; the more elevated banks are cover- 
ed with cane, among wiiich grows the oak, niiipic, ehii, syciunore, as)^, hic- 
kory, dog- wood, holly, ironwood, &c. From the pilot they learned tliat tlieiC 
is a body of excellent land on the Little Missouri, particuhu-ly on the creek 
called the " Bayau a terre noire," which fidis into it. This land extends to 
Red river and is connected with the great prairies which form tlie hunt- 
ing grounds of the Cadanx nation, consistmgof about two hundred warriors. 
1'hey are warlike, but frequently unable to defend themselves against the 
tribe of Osages, settled on the Arcansa i-iver, who passing round the moun- 
tains at tiie head of the Washita, aud along the prairies, which separate 
them from tlie main chain on tije west, where the waters of tlie Red and 
Acansa rivers have their rise, pass into the Cadaux country, and rob and 
plunder them. 

Tiie water in the river Washita rising, tlie pai-ty are enabled to psss the 
numerous rapids and shoals which they meet with in tlie upper country ; 
some of which are difiicult of ascent. The general height of the main 
banks of the river is from six to twelve feet abo^e the level of the water ; 
the land is better in quaUty, the canes, &c. shewing a more luxui-iant vegeta» 
tion. It is subject to inundation, and shews a brown soil mixed witli sand. 
Near Cache Magon (Maison's hiding place) on the right, they stopped to ex* 
amine a supposed coal mine : doctor Hunter and the pilot set out for this 
purpose and at about a mile and a half north-west from the boat, in the bed 
of a creek,* they found a substance similar to what they had before met with 
under that name, though more advanced towards a state of perfect cOal, 
At the bottom of the creek, in a place then diy, was found detached piecea 
of from 50 to 100 pounds weight, adjoining to which lay wood changing into 
the same substance, A stratum of this coal,6 inches thick, lay on both sides 
of this little creek, over another of yellow clay, and covered by one foot of 
gravel ; on the gravel is 8 inches of loam, which bears a few inches of vegetable 
fnould. This stratum of coal is about 3 feet higher than the water in the 
creek, and appeai-s manifestly to have been, at some period, tlie surface of the 
ground. The gravel and loam have been deposited there since, by the wa- 
ters. Some pieces of this coal were very black and solid, of an homogene- 
ous appearance, much resembling pit coal, but of less specifick gravity. It 
does not appear sufficiently impregnated witli bitumen, but may be consider- 
ed as vegetable matter in the progress of transmutation to coal- 
Below the " Bayau de I'eau Froide," which I'uns into the Washita from 
the right, the river is one hundi-ed and seventy yards, flowing through toler- 
ably good land. They passed a beautiful forest of pines, and on the 28th 
fell in with an old Dutch hunter and his pai-ty, consisting in all of five per- 
sons. 

This man has resided forty years on the Wasliita, and before that period, 
has been up tlie Arcansa river, the White river, and the river St. Francis ; 
the two last, he informs, are of difficult na^'igation, similar to the Washita, 
but the Arkansa river is of great magnitude, having a large and broad chan- 
nel, and when the water is low, has great sand banks, like those in the Mis- 
sissippi. Scj fax as he has been up it the navigation is safe and commodious, 
without impecUments from rocks, shoals, or rapids ; its bed being formed 
o/ mud and sand. The soil on it is of the first rate quality. The country 
is easy of access, being lofty open forests, unembarrassed by cans or undof 
growth. The water is disagreeable to drink, being of a red colour and 
brackish when the river is low. A multitude of creeks which flow into 
the Arkansa iurnish sweet water, which the vOyager is obhg-ed to caiTjr 
with him for the supply of his immediate wahta. This man confirmB the ac- 

* Called Coal-mine creek. 



<f 6 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS- 

counts of silver being' abundant up tliat river : he has not been so high ast^ 
See it himself, but says i;e received a silver pin from a hunter, who assured 
him th^tt he himself collected the virjjin silver from the rock, out of which 
he mtide the epingiete by hammering- it out. The tribe of the Osage live 
higlier uptiian this position, but the iiunters rarely go so high, being afraid 
of these savages, who are at war with all the world, and destroy all 
strangers they meet with. It is reported that the Arcansa ni;tion, with a 
part of the Cnoctaws, Chickasaws, Shawneese, &c. have formed a league, 
and are actually gone, or going, ti'M strong, against these depredators, with 
a view to destroy or di-ive tiiem entirely off, and possess tiiemselves of their 
£ne pr;%iries, which are most abundant hunting g-round, being plentifully 
stocked v/ich bulfaloe, elk, dee]-, bear, and every other beast ot tl,e chase 
common to those Latitudes in America. This hunter having given mibrma- 
tion of a small spring- in their vicinity, from which he frequently supplied 
himself by evaporating the water, doctor Hunter, with a party, accompani- 
ed him, on the morning of the 29th NcJvembei", to the place. Tliey found 
a saiine, about a mile and a half north of the camp from whence they set 
Out, and near a creek which enters the Washita a httle abo%'e. It is situated 
in the bottoiu of the bed oi'a dry gulle_v. The sui-rounding land is j-ich, and 
Weil timbered, but subject to inundation, except an Indian mount on the 
Creek side, having a base of eighty or a himdred feet diameter, and twenty 
feet high. After digging about tliree feet, through blue cla}', tliey came to 
a quicksand, from winch the water Ho wed in abundance : its tsste was salt 
and bitter, resembling that of water in the ocean. In a second hole it re- 
<juired 'hemlo dig six feet before they reached the quicksand, in doing which 
they tlirew up several broken pieces of Indian pottery. The specihck gravi- 
ty, compared with the river, was, I'rom the hrst pit, or that three feet deep, 
1,02720, from the second pit, or that six feet deep, 1,02104, yielding a sa- 
line mass, from the evaporation of ten quarts, which, when dry, weighed 
iftij^ht ounces : this brine is, therefore, about the same strength as that of 
the ocean on our coast, and twice the strengtii of the famous Ucks in Ken- 
tucky called Bullet's lick, and Mann's lick, from which so m.uch salt is 
fflade. 

The " fourche de Cadaux" (Cadadoquis fork) which they passed on tlie 
tnorning of the 30th, is about one himdi-ed yards wide at its eritrance into 
the Washita, from the left : immediately beyond wliich, on the same side 
the land is i)igh, probably elevated three hundred feet above the water. The 
shoals and rapids here impede their prog;Tess. Ai noon they deduced their 
latitude, by observation, to be 30". li'. 57". N. Receiving- information of 
another salt lick, or saline, doctor Hunter landed, witli a pai-ty, to view it. 
The pit was found in a low flat place, subject to be overflowed from the ri- 
v6r ; it was v/et and rriuddy, the earth on the surface yellow, but on digging 
through about 4 feet of blue clay, the salt water oozed from a quicksand. 
Ten quarts bf this water nroduced, by evaporation, 6 ounces of a sahne mass, 
"Which, from taste, however, shewed an admixture of soda, and muriated 
inagnesia, but the moj-ine salt greatly preponderated. The specjfick gravity 
xwas about 1,076, probably weakened from tlie rain which had fallen the da)' 
before. The ascent of the river becomes more troublesome, from the rapids 
and currents, pai-ticularly at the •' isle du bayau des Roches" (Rocky cre>^k 
island) where it required great exertions, and was attended with some ha- 
zard to pass them. This island is three fourths of a mile in length. The 
river presents a series of shoals, rapids, and small cataracts : and they passed 
several points of high land, full of rocks and stones, much harder and more 
solid than they had V'^t met with. 

The rocks were all silicious, with their fissures penetrated by .«-parry mat- 
ter. Indications of iron ivere frequent, and fragments cf pncr ore -wwe 



AMERICAN STATE PAPEKS. it 

common, but no rich ore of that, or any ether metal, was found. Some of 
the hills appeal- well adapted to the cultivation of the vine ;• the soil beinp 
a sandy loam, with a considerable proportion of g-ravel, and a superfici:^ 
covering of good vegetable black earth. The natural productions are, se- 
veral varieties of oak, pine, dogwood, holly, Sec. with a scattering under- 
gi'owth of whortleberry, hav.thorn, cliina briar, and a variety of small 
vines. 

Above the Isle do iMallon, the countrj'^ wears another prospect, high land* 
and rocks frequently approach the river. The rocks in grain, resemble free 
stone, and are hard enough to be used as hand mill ston.^s, to wiiich purpose 
they are frequently applied. The quality of ihe landi improves, t)ie stratum 
of vegetable earth being from six to vwelve inches, of a dark brov.n colour, 
with an admixture of loam and sand. Below Deer Island they passed a 
stratum of free stone, fifty feet thick, uiKler which is a quarry of imperfect 
slate in perpendicular layers. About a league from the river, and a little 
above tiie slate quarry, is a considerable plain, called •' Prairie de Champig- 
nole," often fi-equented by buflaloe. Some salt licks are found near it, and 
in many situations on both sides of this river, tliere are said to be Siilines 
which may hereafter be rendered very productive, and from which the fu- 
ture settlements may be abundantly supplied. 

About 4 miles below the *'chuttes," (falls) they, from a good observation, 
found the latitude 34°. 21' 25". 5. The land on either hand continues to im- 
prove in quality, with a sufficient stratum of dark earth of brownish colour. 
Hills frequently rise out of the level country, full of rocks and stones, 
hard and flint)', and often resembhng Tm-key oil stones. Of this kind was 
a promontory which came in from the right hand, a little below the cliuttes % 
at a distance it presented the appearance of ruined buildings and fortifica- 
tions, and several insidated masses of rock conveyed the idea of redoubts 
and out-works. This eflect w.is heightened by the risingofa flock of swans 
which had taken their station in the water, at the foot of these walls. As 
the voyagers approached, the birds floated about majestically on the glassy 
surface of the water, and in tremulous accents seemed to consult upon 
means of safety. The whole was a sublime picture. In the afternoon of 
the third of December, they reached the chuttes, and found the falls to be 
occasioned by a chain of rocks of the same hard substance seen below, ex- 
tending in the direction of north-east and south-west, quite across the river. 
The v;ater passes through a number of branches worn by the impetuosltv 
of the torrent where it forms go many cascades. The chain of rock or hill 
on the left, appears to have been cut down to its present level by the abra- 
sion of the v/aters. 3y great ercertion, and hghtening the boat, they pa.nr,-, 
edthe chuttes this evening and encamped just above tlie cataracts, and with- 
in the hearing of their incessant roar. 

Immediately abo\-e the chuttes, the current of the water is slow, to ano- 
ther ledge of h^rd free stone ; the reach between is spacious, net less th:n 
tvvo hvmdred yards wide, and terminated by a hill, three hundred feet h'gh 
covered with beautilul pines : this is a fine situation for building. In lati- 
tude 34° 25' 4o" they passed a very dangerous rapid,from the number of rocks 
which obstruct the passage of the v/ater, and break it into foam. On the 
liglit of tlie rapid is a high rocky hill covered v/ith very h.andsome pine words. 
Tlie strata of the rock has an inclination of 30° to the horizon in the direc- 
tion of the river descending. This hill may be three himdred or three hund- 
red and fifty feet high ; a border or list of green cane skirts the margin of 
the river, beyond which generally rises a high and sometimes a baiTcn hill. 
Near another rapid they passed a hill on the left, containing a large bodv of 
fclue slate. A small distance above the bayau de Saline they had to pass s 
lapid cf or.e hundretJ and fifty yards in length, and four feet and a half fall. 



T9 AMERICAK STATE FAP£RS. 

■which, from its velocity, the French have denominated "La Cascade." Be- 
low tlie cascade there are rocky hills on botli sides composed of very hard 
free stone. The stone in the bed of the river, and which has been rolled 
from the upper country, was of the hardest Hint, or oi" a quality i-esembhng 
the Turkey oil stone. " Fourche au Tigree," (Tyger's creek), which comes 
in from the right, a little above tlie cascade, is said to have many extensive 
tracts of rich level land upon it The rocky hills here frequently approach 
the Washita on both sides ; rich bottoms are nevertheless infrequent, and 
the upland is sometimes of moderate elevation and tolerably level. Tlie 
stones and rocks here met with have their fissures filled by sparry and clu-ys- 
taline matter. 

Wild tutkies become more abundant and less difficult of approach than be- 
low ; and the howl of the wolves is heard during the night. 

To tlie " Foiu-che of Calfat," (Caulker's creek) where the voyage termi- 
nates, they found level and good land on the right and high hills on the left 
hand. After passing over a very precipitous rapid, seemingly divided into 
four steps or falls, one of which was at least fifteen inches in perpendicular 
height, and which together could not be less than five and a half feet, tliey 
arrived at Ellis's camp, a small distance below the Fourche au Calfat, where 
they stopped on the sixth of December, as the pilot considered it the most 
convenient landing from whence to cany theu- necessai-y baggage to the hot 
springs, the distance being about three leagues. There is a creek about 
two leagues higher up, called " bayau des sources chauds," (hot spring 
creek) upon the banks of wliich the hot springs are situated at about two 
leagues from its mouth. The banks of it are hilly, and the road less eligi- 
ble than from EUis's camp. >. 

On ascending the hill, to encamp, they found the land very level and good, 
some plants in iiower, and a great many everg-reen vines ; tlie forest oak 
witli an admixture of other woods. The latitude of this place is 34° 27' 31*. 
5. The ground on which tliey encamped was above fifty feet above tlie wa- 
ter in the river, and supposed to be thirty feet higher than the inundations. 
Hills of considerable height, and clothed with pine were in view, but tlie 
land around, and extending beyond their view, lies handsomely for cultiva- 
tion. The superstratum is of a blackish-brown colour, upon a yellow basis, 
the whole intermixed with gravel and blue schistus, frequently so fiu- decom- 
posed as to have a strong aliumnious taste. From their camp, on the Wash- 
ita, to the hot springs, a distance of about nine miles, the first six miles of 
the road is in a westerly direction without many suiuosities, and the remain- 
der northwardly, wlkich courses ai-e necessary to avoid some very steep hills. 
In this distance they found 3 principal salt licks, and some inferioiu- ones, 
which are all frequemed by buifaloe, deer, &c. The soil around them is a 
white, tenacious clay, probably fit for potters' ware ; hence the name of 
" glaise," which tlie French hunters have bestowed upon most of the licks, 
frequented by tlie beast of the forest, m.any of which exhibit no saline im- 
pregnation. The first two miles from the river camp is over level land of 
the second rate quality ; the timber chiefly oak, intermixed with other treea 
common to the climate, .ind a few scattering pines. Further on, tlie lands, 
on either handj rise into gently swelling Iiills, covered with handscnie pine 
woods. The road passes along a valley frequently wet by numerous rills 
and springs of excellent water which issue from the foot of the hills. Near 
ihe hot springs the hills become more elevated, steeper of ascent and rocky. 
They are here called mountains, although none of tliem in view exceed 
four or five hundred feet in altitude. It is said that mountains of more than 
five times the elevation of these hills are to be seen in the north-west, to- 
wards the sources of the Washita. One of them is called the glass, crys- 
til, or shining mountain, from the vast number of hexagonal prisms of ver^ 



AMfKICAN STATS PAPJEfiSi 7f 

Iranjparent ^ colourless crystal which are found on its surface ; they are ge- 
nerally surniouiited by pyramids at one end, rarely on both. These crysttJa 
do not produce a double retraction of the rays of light. Many searches 
have been made over these moiuitains for the precious metals, but it is be? 
lioved without success. 

At tlie li')t springs they found an open log cabin, and a few huts of split 
boards, all calculated for summer encampment, and which had been erected 
by persons resorting to the springs for the recovery of their health. 

They slightly repaired these huts, or cabins, for their accommodation dur- 
ing tlie time of their detention attlie springs, for the purpose of examining 
tJi£m and the surrounding country ; and making sucli astronomical observa- 
t^ns as were necessary for ascertaining their geographical position. 

It is understood that the hot springs are included within a grant of some 
hundi'ed acres, granted by the late Spanish commandant of the Washita, to 
Bome of his friends, but it is not believed that a regular patent was ever 
issued for the place ; audit cannot be asserted tliat residence, with improve- 
ment here, form a plea to claim the land upon. 

On tlieir arrivid tltey immediately tasted the waters of the hot springs, 
that is, after a few minutes cooling, for it was impossible to approach it witli 
tlie lips when first taicen up, without scalding : the taste does not di&f 
from that of good water rendered hot by culinary fire. 

On the lOtJi they visited all the hot springs. They issue on the east side 
of the ViUley, where the huts ai"e, except one spring, which rises on the 
west bank of the creek, from the sides and foot of a hill. From the small 
quantity of calcareous matter yet deposited, the western spring does not 
appear to He of long standing : a natural conduit probably passes under tli« 
bed of the creek, and supplies it. There are four principal springs rising' 
immediately on the east bank of the creek, one of which may be rath- 
er said to spring out of the gravel bed of the run ; a fiftJi, a smaller 
one than that above mentioned, as rising on the west side of the creek ; and 
a. sixth, of the same magnitude, the most northerly, and rising near the bank 
of the creek : these are all the sources that merit the name of springs, 
near the huts ; but there is a considerable one below, and all along, at inter- 
vals, the warm water oozes out, or drops from the bank into the creek, as 
appears from the condensed vapour floating along the margin of tlie creek 
where the drippings occvu-. 

The hill from which the hot springs issue is of a conical form, terminating 
at the top with a few loose fragments of rock, covering a flat space twenty- 
five feet in diameter. Although the figure of the hill is conical it is not en- 
tirely insulated, but connected with the neighbouring hills by a very narrow 
ridge. The primitive rock of this hill, above the base, is principally sili- 
cious, some part of it being of the hardest flint, others a freestone extremely 
compact and solid, and of various colours. The base of the hill, and for a 
considerable extent, is composed of a blackish blue schistus, wliich divides 
into pcrpendicidiu- lamina like blue slate. The water of the hot springs is, 
tlierefore, delivered from tlie silicious rock, generally invisible at the surface 
from the mass of calcareous matter with which it is incrusted, or rather bu- 
ried, and which is perpetually precipitating from the water of the springs : 
a small proportion of iron. In tlie form of a red calx, is also deposited ; the 
colour of which is frequently distinguishable in tiie Ume. 

In ascending the hill several patciies of rich black earth are found, which 
appear to be formed by the decomposition of the calcareous matter : in other 
situations the superficial earth is penetrated, or encrusted, by limestone, 
with fine lamina, or minute fragments of iron ore. 

The water of the hot springs must formerly nave issued at a greater ele- 
vation in the hill, and run over tlie surface, having formed a mass of calca*^ 



iO AMERICAN STATE PAPERS,. 

reous rock one hundi-ed feet perpendicular, by its deposition. Inthishigfe 
situation they foaud a spring, whose temperature was 14U° of Farenheit'* 
thermometer. After passing the calcareous region they found the primitive 
hiil covered by a forest of not very large trees, consisting chieHy of oalc, 
pine, cedar, Iiolly, hawthorn, and others common to the chmate, with a great 
variety of vin::s, som-i said to produce black, and others jellow grapes, both 
excellent in their kinds. The soil is I'ockv, interspersed with gravel, sand, 
and iiiie vegetLible mjuld. On reaching the height of two hundred feet per- 
pendicular, a considerable change in the sod was observable ; it was stony 
and gravelly, with a superhcial coat of black earth, but immediately under 
it lies a stratum of fat, tenacious, soapy, red clay, inclining to the colour of 
bright Spanish snuif, homogeneous, v/itli scarcely any admixtm-e of sand, 
no saline, but rather a soft agreeable taste : the timber diminishes, and the 
rocks increase in size to the summit. • The whole height is estimated at tliree 
hundi-ed feet above the level of the valley. 

On examining the four principal springs, or those which yield the greatest 
quantity of water, or of the highest temperature, No. 1 was found to raise 
the mercury to 150°. No. 2 to 1.54''. No. 3 to 136°. and No. 4 to 132 de- 
grees of Farenheit's thermometer : the last is on the west side of the 
creek : No. 3 is a small basin in which there is a considerable quantity of green 
matter, having much the appearance of a vegetable body, but detached from 
the bottom, yi^t connected with it by something like a stem, v.hich rests in cal-i 
carcous matter. Tlie body of one of these pseudo plants was from 4 to 5 feet in 
diameter ; the bottom a smooth film of some tenacity, and the upper surface di- 
vided into ascending fibres of •§ or -^ of an inch long, resembling the gills of 
a fish, in transversa; rows. A little further on was anotlier small muddy basin, 
in which the water was warm to the finger : in it was a vermes about g an inch 
long, with a moving serpentine or vermicular motion. It was invariably observ- 
ed, that the green matter forming on stones &. tlie leaves covered » stratum of 
calcareous earth, sometimes a little hard,or brittle, at others soft and imperfcict. 
From the bottom of one of the hot springs a frequent ebullition of gas was 
observed, wliich not having the means of collecting, they could not ascertain 
its nature : it was not inflammable, and there is little doubt of its being car- 
bonic acid, from the quantity of lime,&; the iron,held in solution by tlic water. 

Tliey made the following rough estimate of the quantity of water deliv- 
ered bv the springs. There ai-e four principal springs, two of inferiour note ; 
one rising out of tiie gravel, and a number of drippings and drainings,all issu- 
ing from t'le margin, or from under the rock which overhangs the creek. 
Of the four first mentioned, three deliver nearly equal quantities, but No. 1, 
the most consideiwble, delivers about five times as much as one of the other 
three ; the two of inferiour note may, together, be equal to one ; and all the. 
tirojjpings, and small springs, are probably underrated at double the quanti- 
ty of one of the three ; that is, all together, they will deliver a quantity 
equal to eleven times the water issuing from the one most commodiously 
situated for measurement. This spring filled a vessel of eleven quarts in 
11 seconds, hence the whole quantity of hot water delivered from the springs 
at the base of the hill is 165 gallons a minute, or 3771| hogsheads in 24 hours, 
which is equal to a handsome l^rook, and might work an over-shot mill. In 
cool weather condensed vapour is seen rising out of the gravel bed of the 
creek, from springs which cannot be taken into account. During the sum- 
mer and fall the creek receives little or no water but what is supplied by 
the hot springs : at that season itself is a hot bath, too hot, indeed, near the 
springs ; so that a person may choose the temperature most agreeable to 
himself, by selecting a natural basin near to, or faj-ther from, the principal- 
spring. At three or four miles below the springs the water is tepid and un 
pleasant to di'ink. 



13WERICAN STATK PAPERS. jji 

IProm the iVestern mountain, estimated to be of equal height with that 
fc-oni which tlic- hot spring-s flow, thti-e are several fine prospects. The 
valley of tlie Wushita, coniprchcndtd between the hills on cither side seem- 
ed to be a perfect flat, anil about twelve miles wide. On all hands were 
«een tlie liills, or mountains, as they are here called, risuig- behind each 
other. In tlie direction of north, the most distant were estimated to be fif- 
ty miles off, and arc supposed to be those of the Arkansa river, or the riig- 
i-cd mountains which divide the waters of the Arkansa from those of the 
Washita, and present the Osige Indians from visiting the latter, of whom 
tliey iu-e supjjosed ignorant, otherwise their excursions here would prevent 
tliis place from I)cing visited by white persons, or other Indians. In a 
south west direction, at about forty miles distance, is seen a perfectly level 
ridge, supposed to be the high prairies of the Red river. 

Notwitlistanding tlie severity of the weatlier, a considerable number, and 
Bome variety of plants were in flower, and others retained their verdure : 
indeed the ridge was more temperate than the valley below ; there it was 
cold, damp, and penetrating ; liere dry, and the atmosphere mild. Of the 
plants growing- here was a species of cabbage r the plants grow with expand- 
ed leaves spreading on tlic ground, of a deep green, with a shade of purple : 
tlie taste of the cabbage Was plainly predominant, with an agreeable warmth, 
inclining to that of tlie radish ; severil tap-roots penetrated into the soil, of 
a white colour, liaving tlie taste of horse-radish, but much milder. A quan- 
tity of them ti.ken to the camp and dressed, proved palatable and mild. It 
is not probable that cabbage seed has been scattered on this ridge ; the hun- 
ters jwceading- this river have always had different objects. Until further 
elucidation, this cabbage must be considered as indigenous to this sequester- 
ed quai'ter, and may be denominated the cabbage radish of the Washita. 
They found a plant, tjien green, called by the French " racine rouge," (red 
root), which is said to be a specifick in femide obstructions ; it has also been 
used, combined with t!ie China root, to dye red, the last probably acting as 
a mordant. The top (jf tliis ridge is covered with rocks of a flinty kind, 
and so very hard as to be impi'oper for gun-flints, for when applied to that 
use it soon digs cavities in the hammer of the lock. This hard stone is ge- 
nerally white, but frequently clouded with red, brown, black, and other co- 
lours. Here and there fragments of iron stone were met with, and wliere 
a tree had been overtiu-ned, its roots broug-ht to view fragments of schistus, 
which were sufl'ering decomposition from exposure to the atmosphere. On 
dig'ging where the slope of tlie hill was precipitous, they found the second 
stratum to be a reddish clay, i-esembling that found on the conical hill, east 
of the camp. At two-thirds down the hill, the rock was a hard freestone, 
intermixed with fragments of flint, which had probably rolled from above. 
Still lower was found a blue schistus, in a state tending to decomposition 
■where exposed to the atmosphere, but hard and resembling coarse slate in 
tlie interiour. M:uiy stones had the appearance of Tui'key oil stones : at the 
foot of the hill it expands into good farming lands. 

Dr. Hunter, upon examining the waters of the hot springs, obtained the 
following results : 

It diflisred nothing from the hot water in smell or taste, but caused a 
slight eructation shortly after drinking it. 

Its specifick gi-avit\' is equal to rain or distilled water. 

It gave to litamus paper, a slight degree of redness, evincing the presenc« 
of the carbonick acid, or fixed air sulphurick, and threw d<nvn a few detached 
particles. Oxylat of ammoniack caused a deposition and wiiite cloud, shew- 
ing t)ie presence of a sm;;ll portion of lime. Prusiat of potash produced a 
slight and scarcely perceptible tinge of blue, designating' the pfesence of a 
small quantity of iron. 

Vol. III. Appendix. L 



*2 AMEIUCAX ESTATE PAPiSk*. 

Sixteen pounds of w;itei-, evaporated to dryness, left ten gTarrfs of a ^'^'f 
powder, which proved to be lime. 

The myrtle Vvux tree grows in the vicinity of the springs. At the season 
in which the voyag-ers were there, the wax was no longer green, but had 
changed its colour to a greyish* white, from its long exposure to the weather. 
The beny, v/hen examined by the microscope, is kss than the smallest gar- 
den pea, approaching- to an o\'al in form. Tlie nuclus, or real seed, is the- 
size of the seed of a radish, and is covered with a number of kidney shaped 
glands, of a brown colour and sweet taste ; these glands secrete the wax 
which completely envelopes them, and, at tjiis season, gives to the whole 
the appearance of an, imperfectly wiiite berry. This is a valuable plant and 
merits attention : its favourite position is a dry soil, rather poor, and looking 
down upon tlie water. It is v/ell adapted to ornament the margins of canals, 
Irlkes, or rivulets. The cassina yapon is equ:.lly beautiful, and proper for 
the same ]uirpose : it grows here along the banks of this stony creek, inter- 
mingled with the myrtle, and beai'S a beautiful little red berry, very much 
resembling tliered cuiTant. 

Tlie. rock, throug-h which the hot springs eitlier pass or trickle over, ap- 
pears undermined by the waters of the creek. The hot water is continually 
depositing calcareous, and, ])erhaps, some silicious matter, forming new rocks^ 
alwaj's augmenting and projecting their promontories over the running wa- 
ter of the creek, which prevents its formation below the surfvce. Wher- 
ever this calcareous crust is seen spreading over the barik and. mai-gin of the 
creek, tlierc, most certainly, the hot water will be found, eitiier running 
over the sui-face, or through some channel, perhaps below the new rock, or 
dripping from the edges of the overlianging precipice. The jirogress of 
nature in the formation of this new rock is curious and worthy the attention 
of the mineralogist. Wlien the hot water issues from the fountain, it fre- 
quently spreads over a superficies of some extent ; so far as it reaches, on- 
cither hand, there is a de])osition of, or growth of green matter. Several, 
lamina of this gi-een matter will be found lying over each othei-, andimm.c- 
diately under, and in contact wltli the inferiour lamina, which is not thicker 
than p.aper, is found a Wiiitrsh substance resembling- a coagulum ; when 
viewed with a microscope, this last is also found to consist of several, some- 
times a good nimiber of lamina, of which that next tlie gi-ecn is the finest 
and tiiinnest, being the last formed; those be!«w increasing in thickness- 
and tenacity, undl t!ie lasttei-minates in a soft errtlsy mrtter, which reposes 
in the more solid' rock. Each lamina of the co.ig-alum is penetrated in ail 
its parts by calcarsous grains, extremely minute, and divided in the more re- 
cent web, but much larg-er and occupying the v.-hole of tlie inferiour lamina. 
The understratum is continually consolidating, and adding bulk and heigh.t 
to the rock. V/hcr. this acquires such an cle ration as to stop tlie passag-c of 
the water, it finds another eourse over the rock, hill, or margin of the creek, 
forming in tm-n, accumulations of mittter over the wiiole of tlie adjacent 
epace. When the water lias found itself a new ciiannel, the green matter,, 
which sometimes acquires a thickness of half an inch, is speedily converted 
into a rich vegetable earth, and becomes tiie food of plants. The surface of 
the calcareous rock also decomposes and forms the ricJiest black moidd inti- 
mately mixed with a considerable portion of soil ; plants and trees vegetate 
luxuriantly upon it 

On examining a piece of ground, upon whlcSi tlie snow dissolved as It fell, 
and whicli was covered with herhiige, they found, in some places, a c:dcare- 
ous crust on the siu'face:: but in general a depth of from fiife inches to a foot 
of the richest black mould. The surface was sensibly Tv-arm to the touch.* 
In the air the mercury in the fhcrmometer stood at 44° :■ wlicn placed four 
iEclie& under the sm-face, iuid covered with earth, it rose rapidly to 66*^'; 



AKEEBICAN STATE PAPBRS. f3^ 

and upon the calcareous rock, eight inches beneath the surface, it rose to 80°. 
'I'liis result was uniform over the whole surface, which w;is aUnJt a 
quarter of an acre. 

On searching' they found a spring-, about fifteen inches under the surface, 
in the water of which t!ie thermometer sliewed a temperatm-e of 130°. 
Beneatii the black mould was found a brown mixture of lime and silex, 
very loose and divisible, apparently in a state of decomposition, and proip-ess- 
ing- towards the formation of black moidd ; under this brouiiish mass it be- 
came gradually whiter and harder, to the depth of from six to twe-lve inches, 
where it was a calcai'cous sparkling- stone. It was evident that the water 
had passed over tliis place, and formed a fiat superficies of silicious lime 
stone ; and tliat its position, nearly level, had faciliated the accumulation of 
eai-th, in proportion as the decom])ositlon advanced. Simihu- spots of ground 
were found hig-her up ti>€ hill, resembling- little savannas, near which hot 
.uprings were always discovered, which luid once flowed over them. It ap- 
peal's probable that tlic hot water of the springs, at aii early period, had all 
issuetl from its grand reservoir in tlie hill, at a mucli g-reater elevation liian 
at present. The calciu-eous crust may be traced up, in most situatioas o.n 
tlie west side of the liill looking down the creek and vtJley, to a .certain 
heig-ht, perhaps one huncked feet pci-pendicular ; in thisreg-ion the hill rises 
pj-ecipitously, and is studded with liard silicious stones ; below the descent 
is more g-radual, and the soil a calcareous black earth. It is easy to discri- 
minate the primitive hill,from tliat which has accumulated, by precipitation, 
from the water of tlie springs ; this last is entirely confined to the west side 
of the hill, and washed at its base by the waters of the creek, no hot spring- 
being visible in any other part of its circumference. By actual measure- 
ment along the base of tlie liill t]\e influence of the springs is fovmd to ex- 
tend seventy perches, in a direction a little to the east of nortli : along the 
whole of this space the springs have deposited stony matter, calcareous, 
with an addition of silex, or crystalized lime. The acc-vimulation of calca- 
reous matter is more considerable at the nortli end of tlie hill than tlie south ; 
the fii-st may be above a hundred feet perpendicular, but sloping- much more 
gradually that the primitive hill above, until it approadies the creek, where 
not unfVf.quently it terminates in a precipice of from six to twenty feet. 
The difference between tlie primitive and secondary hill isso striking, that 
a superficial observer must notice it ; the first is regularly very steep, and 
studded witli rock and stone of tlie hardest flint and otlier silicious .com- 
pounds, and a superficies of two or three inches of good mould covers a red 
. clay ; bela%v, on the secondary hill, wliich carries evident niiuks of receiit 
foi'mation, no flint, or silicious stone, is found ; the calcareous rock conceuls 
all from view, and is, itself, fi-equently covered by mucii fine rich earth. 
It would seem that tliis compound, precipitated from the hot waters, yields 
easily to the influence of tiie atmospliere ; for wliere the w.ilers c^ase to 
flow over any portion of tlie rock, it speedil}" decomposes ; probably more 
rapidly from the lieat communicated from the interiour of the htil^as insulat- 
,ed masses of tlie-j ock are observed to remain witiiout change. 

The cedar, the wax myrtle, and the ciissinayapon, all evea-gi-ecns, attach 
themselves particularly,- to tlie calcareous region, and seem to giuw and thrive 
tven in the clefts of tlie solid rock. 

A spring, cnjoA-ing a fi-eecl<:rm of position, proceeds with grc't regidarity 
in depositing tiie matter it holds in solvition ; the border or rim of its basin 
forms an elevated ridge, from v, lience proceeds a glacis all around, where 
the waters have flov/ed for some time over one part of tli« brim ; tliis bf- 
comes more elevated, and the water has to seek a passage .where fherc i« 
sless re-istancc ; thus forming, in miniature, a crater, resGiiiiiling- in shap« 
;liig conical summit of a volcano. The lijil beu>§ steep above tlie progi-csjs 



8* AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

of petrifaction is stopped on that side, and the waters contintie to flow and 
spi-ead abroad, incrustmg the whole face of the hill below. The last form- 
ed calcareous border of the circulai' basin is soft, and easily divided ; at a 
small depth it is more compact ; and at a depth of six inches it is generally 
hiU'd white stone. If the bottom of due basin is stirred up, a quantity of the 
red calx of iron rises, and escapes over the summit of the crater. 

Visitants to tlie hot springs, having observed shrubs and trees with their 
roots in the hot water, have been induced to try experiments, by sticking 
branches of trees in tlie run of hot water. Some branches of the wax 
myrile were found thrust into the bottom of a spring run, the water of 
■which was 130°. by Fahrenheit's thermometer ; the foli:!ije and fruit of the 
branch were not only sound and heahhy, but at the surface of tlie water roots 
■were actually sprouting fiom it : on pulling it up the part which had pene- 
trated the hot mud was fotuitl decayed. 

The green substance discoverable at the bottom of the hot springs, and 
"wliich at first sight has tlie appearance of plush, on examination by the mi- 
croscope, was found to be a vegetable production. A film of g'reen matter 
spreads itself on the calcareous base, from which rise fibres more than 
half an inch in leng-th, forming a beautiful vegetation. Before the micro- 
scope it spai-kled with innumerable nodules of lime, some part of which 
Avas beautifully crystidized. This circumstance might cause a doubt of its 
being a ti'ue vegetable, but its great resemblance to some of the mosses, 
pai-ticuha-ly the byssi, and the discovery wliich Mr. Dmibar made of its be- 
ing the residence of animal life, confirmed his belief in its being a true 
moss. After a diligent search he discovered a very minute sliell fisli, of the 
bivalve kind, inhabiting this moss ; its shape nearly that of the fresh water 
muscle ; the colour of the shell a greyish brown, with spots of a purplish 
ciolour. Wiien tlie animal is undisturbed it opens the sliell, and thrusts out 
four legs, very transparent, and articulated like those of a quadi-uped ; the 
extremities of the fore leg-s are very slender and sharp, but those of the 
hind legs somewhat broader, apparently armed with minute toes : from the 
extremity of eacJi shell issues three of four forked hairs, which the animal 
seems to possess the power of moving ; the fore legs are probably formed 
ior making incisions into the moss for the purpose of procuring- access to 
the juices of the living plant, upon which, no doubt, it feeds : it may be pro- 
vided with a proboscis, although it did not appear while tlie animal was un- 
der examination : the hind legs are well adapted for propelling it in its pro- 
g'ress over the moss, or throug^h the water. 

• It wauld be desirable to ascertain the cause of that perpetual fire, which 
keeps up the higii temperature of so many springs, as flow from this hill, at 
a considerable distance from each other : upon looking around, however, 
suflricient data for the solution of the diflficult)- is not discoverable. Nothing 
of a volcanick nature is to be seen in this country ; neitlier could they learn 
that any evidence in favour of such a supposition was to be fourid in the 
mountains connected with this river. An immense bed of dark blue schis- 
tus appeai-s to fo,'m the base of the hot spring hill, and of all those in its 
neirjhbourhood : tne bottom of the creek i? formed of it ; and pieces ai'e fre- 
q'lientl; met with rendered soft by decomposition, and possessing a strong 
alumnious taste, requiring nothing but hxiviation and crystalization to com- 
plete the manufacture of alum. As bodies undergoing chemical changes 
generally produced an alteration of temperature, the heat of these springs 
may be owing to the disengagement of calorick, or the decomposition of the 
sclv.stns : another and perhaps a more satisfactory cause may be assigned : 
it is well known, that within the circle of the waters of this river vast beds 
of martial p^Tites exist ; they have not yet, however, been discovered in 
the vicinage of the hot springs, but may, nevertheless, form immense beds 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. «5 

under thr. bases of these Iiills ; and as in one place at least, there is evidence 
of the presence of bitumen,* the union of tliese agents will in the proijjvcsa 
of deconii)osition, by the admission of air and moisture, produce degrees of 
heat capable of supporting- the piienomena of tlie hot spring's. No sulphu- 
rick acid is present in this wuter ; the springs may be supplied by the vapour 
of heated water, ascending- from caverns where the heat is generated, or 
the heat may be immediate^ applied to the bottom of an immense natural 
caldron of rock, contained in the bowels of the hill, from which as a reser- 
voir tlie springs may be supphed. 

A series of accurate observations determined the latitude of tlie hot 
springs to be 34° 31' 4", 16 N. and long 6h. 11' 25", or 92° 50' 45" west 
from the meridian of Greenwich. 

While Mr. Dunbar w:is making arrangements for transporting tlie bag- 
gage back to the river camp, doctor Hunter, with a small party, went on an 
excursion into the coiuiU-y. He left the hot spiings on the morning of tlie 
27'th, and afler travelling sometimes over hills and steep craggy mountains 
■with nai'row \alleys between them, then up the valleys and generally by the 
side of a brancli empt} Ing into the Washita, they reached the main branch 
of the Calfat in the evening, about twelve miles from the springs. The 
stones they met with diu-ing the first part of the day wei-e silivious, of a 
■whitish-grey, with fiints white, cream-coloured, red, &.c. The beds of the 
rivulets, and often a considerable way up the hills, shewed immense bodies 
of scliistus, both blue and grey, some of it efflorescing and tasting strongly 
of alum. Tiie latter part of the day, they travelled over and between hills 
of black, hard, and compact flint in shapeless masses, with schist as before. 
On ascending tliese high gi'ounds you distinctly perceive the commence- 
ment of the piney region, beginning at the height of sixty or seventy feet 
and extending to the top. The soil in these narrow valleys is thin and full 
of stones. The next day, which was stormy, they reached a branch of the 
b.ayau de saline, which stretches towards the Arkansa, and empties into the 
Washita many leagues below, having gone about twelve miles. The moun- 
tains they had passed behig of tlie primitive kind, wliich seldom produce 
metals, and having- hitherto seen nothing of a mineral kind, a little poor 
iron ore excepted, and the face of the country, as far as they could see, pre- 
Kenting the same aspect ; they returned to tlie cf;mp, at the hot spriiigs, on 
the evening of the thirtietli, by another route, in which they met with no- 
thing worthy notice. 

In consequence of the rains which hud fallen, Mr. D\mbar, and those 
who -were transporting the baggage to the river camp, found the road 
watry. The soil on the flat lands under the stratum of vegetable mould is 
yellowish, and consists of decomposed schistus, of which there are immense 
beds in every stage of dissolution, from the hard stone i-ecenth uncovered 
and partially decomposed to the yellow and ap])arently homogeneous eartli. 
The covering of vegetable earth between the hills and the river is, in mtist 
places, suflTiciently thick to constitute a good soil, being from foin- to six 
inches ; and it is the opinion of the people upon the Washita, that wheat 
will grow here to great perfection. Although the hig-her hills, three hund- 
red to six hundi-ed feet in height, are very rocky, yet the inftriour hills, 
and the sloping- bases of the first, are generally covered with a soil of a 
middling quality. The natural productions are sufliciently luxuriant, con- 
gi sting chieHy of black and red oak, intermixed with a variety of other woods, 
and a considerable undergrowth. Even on these rock}' hills are three or 

* Havinjr thrust a stick down into the crater of one of the springs, at some distance up the 
5ii '.1, sever.i! drop'; of petroleum, or naptha, rose and spread upon the surface : it cea;ed to rise 
af t<r tljre« or Itur attennpts. 



S< AMIIWCAN STATE 1>APEK«. 

•four species of Tines, said to produce annually an abundance of excellent 
grapes. A great vai-iety of plants which grow here, some of which ia 
their season are said to- produce flowers liighly ornamental, would probably 
reward the researches of the botanist. 

On the morning of the 8Ui of Januai-y, 1805, the paity left Ellis's on tha 
river camp, where they had been detained for several days widting for such 
a rise in tlie waters ot the river, as would carry their bo;it in safety over the 
numerous rapids below. A rise of about six feet, which had taken place 
the evening before, determined them to move tliis morning ; and they passed 
the chuttes about one o'clock. They stopped to examine tiie rocky promon- 
tary below these falls, and took some specimens of the stone which so much 
resembles tiie Turkey oil stone. It appeai-s too Jiai'd. The strata of this 
chain were observed to rim perpendicularly nearly east and west, crossed by 
fissures at riglit angles from five to eig-ht feet apart ; tlie lamina from one 
fourth of an inch to five inches in tliickiwss. About a league below, ther 
landed at Whetstone inll and took several specimens. This projecting hill 
is a mass of greyish blue schistus of considerable hardness, and abqut twen- 
ty feet perpenchcular, not regularly so, and from a quarter to two inches in 
thickness, but does not split with an even surface. 

They landed again on the morning of the 9tli, in sig-ht of the bayau de la 
prairie de champignole, to examine and take specimens of some free stone 
and blue slate. The slate is a blue schistus, hard, brittle, and unfit foi- the 
covering of a house ; none proper for that purpose have been discovered, 
except on the Caifat, v;hich Dr. Hunter met with in one of his excursions. 

On the evening of the 10th tliey encamped near Arclon's Troughs, hav- 
ing been only three clays in descending tiie distance which took them thir- 
teen to ascend. They stopped some time at tlie can»p of a Mr. Le Fevre. 
He is an intelligent m.anj a native of the IlUnois, but now residing at the 
Arkansas. He came here with some Delawai'e and other Indisuis, whom he 
had fitted out with goods, and receives their peltry, fur, £<,c. at a stipulated 
price, as it is brought in by the hunters. Mr. Le Fevre possesses consider, 
able knowledge oftheinteriour of the countiy ; he confirms the account be- 
fore obtained, that the hills or mountains which give rise to this little river 
ere in a manner insulated ; that is, they ai'e entirely shut in and inclosed bj 
the immense plains or prairies which extend beyond the Red river, to the 
soutii, and bej'ond the Missouri, or at le.-iStsome of its branches,. to tlie nortl), 
and range along the eastern base of the great ciiain, or dividing ridge, com- 
monly known by the name of tlie sand hills, wliich separate the waters of 
the Mississippi from those which fall into the Pacifick ocean. The breadtli 
of this great plain is not well ascertained. It is said by some to be at cer- 
tain parts, or in certain directions, not less than two himdred leagues ; but 
it is agreed by all who have a knowledge of the western country, that die 
mean breadth is at least two thirds of that distance. A branch of tlie Mis- 
souri called the river Platte, or Shallow river, is said to take its rise so far 
south as to derive its fij'st waters from the neighbourhood of the sources of 
the Red and Arkansa rivers. By the expression plains or prairies, in this 
place, is not to h■^ understood a dead flat, resembling certain savannas, 
w^hose soil is stiff' and impenetrable, often under water, and bearing 
only a coarse grass resejnbling reeds ; very different are the west- 
ern prairies, which expression signifies only a country without timber. 
These prairies are neither fiat nor hilly, but undulating- into gentl\' swelling 
lawns and expanding into spacious vailies, in the centre of which is always 
found a little timber growing on the banks of the brooks and rivulets of the 
^dfinest waters. The whole of these prairies arereprescvited to be composed 
of tlie richest and most fertile soil ; the most luxuriant and succulent her- 
i>dge covers die surface of the earth, interspersed with millions of flou'e« 



4«£RI«AM &TATS FAF£K4. Mf 

«nd fiovrering ■•liTiibs, of the most ornamental kinds. Those who hav* 
viewed only a skirt of these prairies, speak of them with enthusiasm, as if 
it was only there tiiat nature was to be found truly perfect ; they declare, 
that the fertility and beauty of the lising- grounds, the extreme richness of 
the vales, the coolness and excellent quality of the water found in every valley, 
the salubrity of the atmosphere, and above all the gi'andeur of the enchant- 
inir landscape which this country presents, inspire the soul with sensation* 
not tu be felt in any other reg-ion of the globe. This paradise is now very 
tliinJy inliiibit (i by a fcv. tribes of savagts, and by the immense herds of 
wild catjM (bison) whicli people these countries. The catile perform re- 
gular mn?r:;tions accorthng to the seasons, from south to north, and ft-om the 
plains to the mountains ; and in due time, taught by their instincts, take a 
retrogade direction. These tribes move in the rear of the herds, and pickup 
stragglers, and such as lag behintl, which the}' kill witli the bow and arrow, 
for their subsistence. Tlas country is not subjected to those sudden deluges 
of rain which in most hot countries^ar.d even in the Mississippi teri-itoiy, tear 
up and swee]> away with irresistable fury, the crop and soil together : on tlie 
contrary, rain is s-iid to become more roi'e in proportion as the great chain 
of mountain is approached ; audit would seem that witliin the sphere of the 
attraction of these elevated ridges, little or no i-ain fidls on the adjoining 
plains. Tliis relation is the more credible, as in that respect our new coun- 
try may resemble other flat or comparatively low coimtries, similarly situat- 
ed ; such as the countiy lying- between the Andes and the western Pacifick ; 
the jilains are svipplied with nightly dews so exti-emely abundant, as to have 
■the effect of refreshing showers of r-dn ; and the spacious vallies, which 
are cxtremel}- level, may with faciUty be watered by the rills and brooks 
-v^hjch are never absent from these situations. Such is the description of 
the better kno%\m country lying to the south of Red river, from Nacogdoches 
towards St. Antonio, in the province of Taxus : the richest crops are said to 
be procmxd tiiere without rain -, but agriculture in that quarter is at a low 
ebb : the small quantities of maize furnished by th^ country, is said to be 
Taised without cultivation. A rude opening is made in the eiirth, sufficient 
to deposit the gi-ain, at the distance of four or five feet, in irregular squares, 
and the resi is left to nature. The soil is tender, spongy and rich, and seem* 
always to retain humidity sufficient, with the bounteous dews of Heaven, to 
bring the crops to maturity. 

The Red and Arcansa rivers, whose courses are very long, pass through 
portions of this fine country. They are both navigable to an unknown dis- 
tance by boats of proper construction ; the Arcansa river is, however, un- 
derstood to have great! }• the advantage with respect to the facility of navi- 
gation. Some difficult places are met with in the Rod river below the Na- 
kitosh, after which it is g-ood for one hundred and fifty leagues (probable 
computed leagues of the country, about two miles eacli) ; there the voyager 
meets with a very serious obstacle, the commencement of the " raft," as it 
is called ; that is, a natural covering which conceals the whole river for an 
extent of seventeen leagues, continually augmenting by the driftwood 
brought do-uni by every considerable fresh. This cmering, which, for a 
'Considerable time, was only diiU-wood, now supports a vegetation of e%ery 
thing abounding in the ueighboui-ing forest, not excepting- trees of a consider- 
*blc size ; and the river may be frequently passed witliout any knowledge 
of its existence. It is said tJiaL tlie annual inundation is opening for itself a 
new passage through the low grounds near the hills ; but it must be long 
befoi-e nature, unaided, will excavate a passage sufficient for the waters of 
'Rrtl river. About fifty leagues above this natural bridge, is the residence 
of th.e Cadeaux or Cadadoquies nation, whose good qualities are already 
'Mentioned, The inhabitants estimate the post of NakitoiiU to be half way 



6t AMERICAN STATE PATEliS. 

between New Orleans and tlie Cacleaux nation. Above this point the navi- 
gation of Red river is said to be embaiTassed by many rapids, falls, and shal- 
lows. The Arcansa river is said to present a safe, agreeable, and uninter- 
rupted navigation as high as it is known. The lands on each side are of tlie 
best quality, and well watered with springs, brooks, and rivulets, affording m ' 
ny situations tor mill-seals. From description it would seem that inong 
tills river there is a regular gradation of hill and dale, presenting tbeir ex- 
tremities to the river ; the hills are gently swelling eminences, and the dales, 
spacious vallies with living water meandering tiirough them ; tlie forests 
consist of handsome trees, chiefly what is called open woods. The quality 
of the land is supposed superiour to that on Red river, until it ascends to the 
prairie country, where the lands on both rivers are probably similar. About 
two hundred leag'ues up the Arcansa is an interesting place called tlie Salt 
prairie : there is a considerable fork of the river there, and a kind of savan-' 
na where the salt water is continually oozing out and spreading over tha 
surface of a plain. Dui'ing the dry summer season the salt may be raked 
up in large heaps ; a natural crust of a hand breadth in thickness is formed 
at this season. This place is not often frequented, on account of the danger 
from the Osage Indians ; much less dare the white hunters venture to as- 
cend higher, where it is generally believed that silver is to be found. It 
is further said, that high up the Arcansa river salt is found in form of a so- 
lid rock, and may be dug out with tlie crow-bai'. The waters of the Arcan- 
sa, like those of Red river, are not potable during the dry season, being both 
charged highly with a reddish earth or mould, and extremely brackish. 
This inconvenience is not greatly felt upon the Arcansa, where springs and 
brooks of fresh water are frequent ; the Red river is understood not to be 
so highly favoui"ed. Every account seems to prove, that immense natui-al 
magazines of salt must exist in the great chain of mountains to the west- 
ward ; as all the rivers in tiie summer season, which flow fiom them, are 
strongly impregnated with that mineral, and are only rendered palatable af- 
ter receiving the numerous streams of fresh water which join tliem in their 
course. The great western prau'ies, besides the herds of wild cattle, (bi- 
son, commonly called buffaloe) are also stocked with vast numbers of wild 
goat (not resembling the domestick goat) extremely swift footed. As the 
description given of this goat is not perfect, it may from its swiftness prove 
to be the antelope, or it possibly may be a goat which has escaped from the 
Spanish settlements of New Mexico. A Canadian, who had been much 
with the Indians to the vi^estward, speaks of a wool-bearing' animal, lai-ger 
tli'-in a sheep, the wool much mixed with hair, which he had seen in large 
flocks. He pretends also to have seen a unicorn, the single horn of which, 
he says, rises out of the forehead and curls back, conveyiug the idea of the 
fossil cornu ammonis. This man says, he has travelled beyond the great di- 
viding ridge so far as to have seen a large river flowing to tlie westward. 
The great dividing mountain is so lofty that it requires two days to ascend 
from the base to its top ; otlier ranges of inferioiu' mountsdns lie before and 
behind it ; tliey are all rocky and sandy. Large lakes and vallies lie between 
the mountains. Some of the lakes are so hu-ge as to contain considerable 
islands ; and rivers flow from some of them. Great numbers of fossil bones, 
of very large lUmensions, are seen among the mountains, Avhich the Cana- 
dian supposes to be the elephant. He does not pretend to ha\e seen any of 
the precious metals, but has seen a mineral which he supposes might yield 
copper. From the top of the high mountain the view is bounded by a curve 
as upon the ocean, and extends over the most beautifid pr;iiries, which seem 
to be unbounded, particularly towards the east. The finest of the lands 
he has seen are on the Missouri ; no other can cnmpiu'e in richness and fer- 
tility with tliem. This Canadian, as well as Le Fevrc, speak of the Osages 
•f tiie tribe of Whitehairs, as lawless and unprincipled : and the otlier Ih- 



AMERICAN STATE ?APERS. S.S" 

•fiai) tribes hold them in abhorrence as a barbarous and uncivilized race s 
and the different nations who hunt in their ncigliboui'liood, liave their concert- 
ing- plans for their destruction. On the morning of the lltli the paity pass- 
ed tJie petit ccor a Fabri. The osier, which grows on the beaches' above, is 
not seen below upon this river ; and here they began to meet with the small 
tree called ' chanier' which grows only on the water side, and is met with 
all the way down the Washita. The latitude of 33° 40' seems the northern 
boundary of tlie one, and the southern boundary of the other of those vege- 
tables. Having noticed the limit set to the long moss, (Telandsia) on the 
ascei\t of the river, in latitude 33°, Mr. Dunbar made inquiry of Mr. Le Fe- 
ver, as to its existence on the Arcansa settlement, which is known to lie in 
about the same parallel ; he said, that its growth is limited about ten miles 
foiitli of the settlement, and that as remarkably, as if a line had been drawn 
east and west for the purpose ; as it ceases all at once, and not by degrees. 
Hence it appears, that nature has marked with a distinguishing feature, the 
line established by congress, between the Orleans and Louisiana ten-itories. 
Tlie cypress is not found on the Washita higher tlian thirty-four degrees of 
nortli latitude. 

In ascending the river, they fovmd their rate of going to exceed that of 
the current about six miles and a half in twenty -four hours ; and that on th« 
12th, they had passed the apex of t!ic tide or wave, occasioned by the fresh, 
and were descending along an inclined plane ; as they encamped at night, 
they found themselves in deeper water the next morning, and on a more ele- 
vated part of tliC inchned plane than they had been in the preceding even- 
ing-, from the progress of the apex of the tide during their repose. 

At noon, on the 16, they reached the post of the Washita. 

Mr. Dunb.-u' being anxious to reach the Natchez as early as possible, and 
being unable to procure horses at the post, took a canoe v.'ith one soldier 
and his own domeotick, to push down to the Catahoola, from whence to 
Concord there is a road of 30 miles across the low grounds. He set 
eff early en the morning of the 20th, and at night reached the settlement of 
an old hunter, with whom lie had conversed on his way up the river. This 
man informed him, that at the place called the mine, on the Little Missouri, 
there is a smoke which ascends perpetually from a particular place, and that 
the vapour is sometimes insupportable. The river, or a branch of it, passes 
over a bed of mineral, which, from the description given, is, no doubt, mar- 
tial pjTites. In a creek, or branch of the Fourche a' Luke,* there is found 
on the beaches and in the cliiFs, a great number of globular bodies, some aa 
large, or larger, th.in a man's head, which, when broken, exhibit the ap- 
pearance of gold, silver, and precious stones ; most probaljlj' pyrites and 
crystalized spar. And at the Fourche des Glaises a' Paul, (higher up the 
river than Fourclie a' Luke) near the river there is a cliff full of hexagonal 
prisms, terminated by pjTamids, which appear to grow out of the rock ; 
they are from six to eight inches in length, and some of them are an inch in 
diameter. Tiiere are beds of pyrites found in several small creeks com- 
municating v/ith the Washita, but it appears that the mineral indications ar» 
greatest on the Little Missouri, because, as before noted, some of the hun- 
ters actually worked on them, and sent a parcel of the ore to New Orleans. 
It is tlie belief here, that the mineral contains precious metal, but that the 
Spanish government did not choose a mine should be opened uo near t» yi«, 

♦ Three league* above EllU' camp. 
Vol III. Appendix. M 



^0 



AMERICAN STATE PArERS. 



British settlements. An express prohibition was issued against workirtg:' 
these mines. 

At this place, Mr. Dunbar obt^iined one or two slips of the "bois d' arc," 
(bow wood) or yellow wood, from the Missouri. The fi'uit which had 
fallen before matin-it}', lay upon the ground. Some were of tije size of a 
s,mall orang-e, with a rind fvdl of tubercles ; the colour, tliough it appeared 
faded, still retained a resemblance to pale gold. 

The tree in its native soil, wh«n 1: den witli its g-(3lden fruit, (nea.rly as 
large as the eg-g of an ostrich), presents the most splendid appearance ; its 
foliage is of a deep green, i-eserabling tlie varnislied leaf of the orange tree, 
and, upon the wliole, no forest tree can compare with it in ornamental 
^andeur. The bark of the young trees resembles, in texture, the dog wood 
oai'k ; the appearance of tiie wood reconimeiids it for tiial as an article 
■which may yickl a yellow d} e. It is deciduous ; the branches are numer- 
ous, and full of short thorns or pricldes, v/hich seem- to point it out as pro- 
per for hedges or live fences.. This tree is known to exist ne.ir the Naldtosh 
(perhaps in latitiide 32°), and upon the river Arcansa, high up (perliaps in 
lat. 36*^) ; it is therefore probable tliat it may tbrire from latitude 38'^ to 40* 
and will be a great acquisition to tlie United States if it possess no other 
merit than that of being ornamentid. 

In descending the river, both Mr. Dunbar and Dr. Hunter searched for 
the place said to yield gy|)sum, or plaister of Paris, but failed. The former 
gentleman states, that he has no doubt of its existence, having noted twa 
piaces where it has been found ; one of wliich is the iirst hill or high land 
•which touches the river on the west, above the bayau Calumet, and the 
otlier is the second high land on tlie same side. As these lU'e two points of 
the same continued ridge, it is jnc^lxible that an immense body of gypsum 
•will be found in the bowels of the hills where they meet, and perhaps ex- 
tending far beyond them. 

On the evening of the 22d, Mr. JDunbar arrived at the Catalioola, where a 
Frenchman of the name of Hebrard, v.'lio keeps the ferry across Black rivers- 
is settled. Here the road from tlie Washita forks, one branch of it leading to 
tlie settlement on Red river, and the other up. to the post on the Washita. 
The proprietor of this place has been a hunter and a great traveller up the 
Washita and into tlie western country : he confirms generally tlie accounts 
received from others. It appears from what they say that in tlic neighbour- 
hood of tlie hot springs, but higher up, among the mountains, and upon thcr 
Little iN'Iissouri, dm'lng the sununer season, explosions are very frequent- 
ly heard, proceeding from under the ground : and not rarely a curious phe- 
nomenon is seen, which is termcid tlie blowing of the mountains ; it is con- 
fined elastic gas forcing a passage tlirough the side or top of a hill, driving 
before it a great quantity r.f e:u-tli and mineral matter. D^oi-ing the winter 
season the explosions and blowing of the mountains cnlirely cease, 
from whence we may conclude, that the cause is ct^mparaiively superficial, 
being broQght into action by the increased heat of the more direct rays of 
the summer sim. 

The confluence of the Washita, Catahoola and Tenza, is an interesting 
place. The last of these communicates witli the Mississi'ppi low lands, by 
t.he intervention of other creeks and lakes, and by one in jjarticular, culled 
" Bayau d'Argent," which empties into the Mississippi, about fourteen 
miles above Natchez. During high water there is a navigation for batteaux 
of any burthen along the bayau. A large lake, called St. Jolm's lake, oc- 
cupies a considemble part of the passage between the Mississippi and the 
Tenza ; it is in a horse slioe fui.m, and has, at some former period, been the- 
ked of the Missiaiippi ; flu; nearest pai't of it is about one mile removed 



AMERICAN STATE PAPER*. §1 

fvoTC, the rivPT at the present time. This lake, possessing- elevated banks, 
•aimihtr to those of the river, has been lately occupied and improved. The 
Catahoola bayau is the third navigable stream : during' tlie time of tlie in- 
undation there is an excellent communication by tlie lake of that name, and 
from thence, by lai'ge creeks, to tlie Red river. The coiuitry around the 
point of union of these tlu'ee rivers is altogether alluviiJ, but the place of 
Mr. Hebrai'd's residence is no longer subject to inimdation. There is n<J 
douljt, tliat as the country augments in population and luches, this place will 
become tlie site of a commcrciid iixland town, v.Oiich will keep pace with 
the progress and prosperity of the country. One of the Indian mounts here 
is of a considerable elevation, with a species of rampart surrounding' a lai'ge 
space, which was, no doubt, the position of a fortified town. 

While here, Mr. Dunbar met with an American, who pretended to hav« 
been up tlie Ai-kansa river tiiree himdix-d leagues. The navigation of this 
river, he sa^s, is good to that distance, for boats cU'awing three orf<jur feet 
water. Implicit fijitb, perliaps, ought not to be given to hig relation, re- 
specting the cjuantity of silver he pretends to have collected there. He says 
I)e has found silver on the Wasliita, thirty leagues above tlie hot springs, so 
rich, that tiirce pounds of it yielded one pound of silver, and that this was 
found in a cave. He asserts, also, that t];e ore of the mine ^ipon the little 
Missoui'i was carried to Kentucky, by a person of the name of Boon, where 
it was found to yield largely in silver. This man says he has been up the 
I?-ed river likewise, and that tbei'e is a great rapid just below the raft, or 
natural bridge, and several others above it ; that the Caddo nation is about 
Ijfty leagues above the raft, and near to their village commences the country 
of the great prairies, which extend four or five hundred miles to the west 
-of the sand mountains, as they are termed. These great plains reacli far 
beyond tiie Red river to the south, and northward over the Arkansa river, 
and among the numerous branches of the Missouri. He confirms the ac- 
count of the beauty and fertility of the western country. 

On the morning of the 25th Mr. Dunbar set out, on horseback, from the 
(Catahoola to Katchez. The rain which had foUen on the preceding days 
rendered tlie roads wet and muddy, and it was two in the afternoon betbre 
he reached tlie Bayau Crocodile, wliich is considered lialf way between the 
Black rh'er and the Mississippi. It is one of the numerous creeks in the 
low grounds whicli assist in venting the waters of the inundation. On the 
margins of the water courses the lands are highest, and produce canes ; 
tliey fall off", in the rear, into c_\-press swamps and lakes. The waters of the 
Mississippi were rising, and it was with some difficulty tliat they reached a 
house near Concord that evening. This .settlement was begun since the 
cession of Louisiana to the United States, by citizens of the Mississipj); ter- 
ritory, who have established their residence altogether upon newly acquired 
l.inds, taken up under the authority of Hie Spanish commandant, and liavc 
gone to the expense of improvement, either in the names of themselves or 
.others, before the 2(Xh of December, 1803, koping thereby to hold their new 
possessions under the sanction of the law. 

Exclusive of the few actual resitlcnts on the banks of the Missis.sippi, 
there are two very handsome lakes in the interiour, en th'? banks of which 
similar settlernents have been made. He crossed at the ferry, and at mid- 
Jay of the 26th reached his own house. 

Dr. Hunter, and the remainder of the party, foUowed Mr. Dunbai- down 
-Uic Washita with the boat in which tliey had ascended the river, and, as- 
.cending the Mississippi, reached St. Catharine's landing on tlic monijng of 
,ibe 31st January, 1805. 



^5 AMERICAN STAT* PAPERS, 

Common names of some of the trees, shrubs, and /ilants ^ror^ijig in- 
the vici?nly of the Washita. 

Three kinds of white oak, four kinds of red oak, black oak, three kinds 
of hickory, one of which has an oblong' nut, white and good, chinkapin, threo 
kinds of ash, one of which is the prickly, three kinds of elm,t\vo kinds of maple, 
two kinds of pine,i"ed cedar, sweet g'um, black gum, linden, two kinds of iron 
■wood, growing on high and'low lands, sycamore, box elder, holly, sweet bay, 
laurel, magnolia acuminata, black walnut, filbert, buckeye, dogwood, tliree 
kinds of locust, the three-thorned and honey locust, liazle, beech ; wild 
plumb, the fruit red but not good ; bois d'arc (bow wood) called also bois 
jaune (yellow wood) a famous yellow dye ; three kinds of hawthorn, with, 
berries, red, scarlet, and black ; lote tree, for Indian arrows ; bois de carbane, 
a small growth, luid proper for hoops ; two kinds of osier, myrtle, tooth-ache 
tree, and magnolia. 

A vine, bearing large good black gTapes in bunches, black grape, hill 
grape, yellow grape, muscadine, or fox grape, and a variety of other vines. 
The saw briar, single rose briai', and china I'oot briiu", wdd goose beriy, 
with a dark red fruit, three kinds of whortle berry, wild pomegranate, passion 
flower, two sorts of sumach, winter's beny, winters green, a small red 
jfai'inaceous berry like a haw, on a plant one inch high, v/hich grows under 
the snow, and is eaten by the Indians ; the silk plant, wild endive, wild olive, 
j)ink root, snake root, wild mint of three kinds, coloquintida (bitter apple) 
growing along the river side, clover, sheep's clover, life everlasting, wild 
liquorice, marygold, missletoe, thistle, wild hemp, bull rush, dittany, wliito 
and red poppy, yellow jessamine, poke, fern, capillaire, honeysuckle, mosses, 
petu to make ropes with, wormwood, hops, ipecacuanha, persicai-ia, Indiai* 
iui'nip, wild cari-ot, wild onion, ginger, wild cabbage, and bastard indigo. 



PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 

COMMUNICATION TO BOTH HOt'SES OF CONGRESS, AT THE COMMENCE' 
MENT OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE NINTH CONGRESS, DECEM- 
BER 2, 1806. 

To the Senate, and House of Representatives 

of the United States, in Congress assembled. 
IT would have given me. Fellow Citizens, great satisfaction to an- 
n<->unce, in the moment of your meeting, that the difficulties in our fo- 
reign relations, existing at the time of your separation, had been amicably 
and justly terminated. I lost no time in tailing those measures which were 
most likely to bring them to such a termination, by special missions, charg- 
ed with such powers and instructions as, in the event of failm-e, coidd leave 
no imputation on either our moderation or foi-bearance. The delays, which 
have since taken place in our negociations with the British Government, ap- 
pear to have proceeded from causes which do not forbid the expectation 
that, diu-ing the course of the session, I may be enabled to lay before you 
their final issue. AVhat will be that of the negociations for settling our dif- 
ferences with Spain, nothing which has taken place, at the date of the last 
dispatches, enables us to pronounce. On the western side of the Mississippi 
she advanced in considerable force, and took post at the settlement of Bayau 
Pierre, on the Red river. This village was originally settled by France, 
was held by her as long as she held Louisiana, and was delivered to Spain 
only as a part of Louisiana. Being small, insulated, and distant, it was not 
observed at the moment of re -delivery to France and, the United States, that 



AWERICAN STATE PAPERS. 9^ 

»lie continued a gT,iai'd of half a dozen men, which had bern stationed there. 
A proposition, however, leaving' been lately made by our commander in chief, 
to assume the Sabine river as a temporary line of separation between the 
troops of the two nations, until tiie issue of our negociations shall be loiowu 
this has been referred by the Spanish commandant to his superiour,andlntho 
mean time he has withdrawn lus force to the western side of the Sabine 
river. The coirespondence on this subject, now communicated, will ex- 
hibit more particularly the present state of things in that quarter. 

The nature of that country rec^uires Indispensably that an unusual propor- 
tion of the force employed there should be ca\alry or mounted infantry. In 
order therefore that uic commanding' officer might be enabled to act with 
effect, I had authorized him to crJl on the governours of Orleans and Missis- 
sippi for a corps of five hundi'cd volunteer cavalry. The temporary arrange- 
menthe has proposed m.ay perhaps render this unnecessary. But I inform 
you, with great pleasm-e, of tlie promptitude with which the inhabitants of 
those territories have tendered their services in defence of their country. 
It has done honom* to tiiemselves, entitled them to the confidence of their 
fellow citizens m every pai-t of the Union, and must strengthen the general 
determination to protect them efficaciously vmder all circumstances which 
may occur. 

Having received information that in another part of tlie United States a 
great number of private individuals were combining together, arming* and 
organizing themselves, contrary to law, to carry on a military expedition 
against the territories of Spain, I tliought it necessary, by preclamation, as 
well as by special orders, to take measures for preventing :uid suppressing 
this enterprize, for seizing the vessels, arms, and otlier means provided for 
it, and for arresting and bringing to justice its authors and abettors. It 
was due to that good faith w'aich ouglit ever to be the rule of action in 
publick as well as in private transactions ; it was due to good order, and re- 
gidar government, that, while the publick force was acting strictly on the 
defensive, and merely to protect our citizeris from aggression, the criminal 
attempts of private individuals to decide, for their country, the question of 
peace or war, by commencing' active and unauthorized hostilities, should be 
promptly and efficaciously suppi'csscd. 

Whether it will be necessary to enlarge our regular Pjrce, will depend on 
the result of our negociations with Spain. But as it is uncertain wlien that 
result will be known, tiie provisional measures requisite for that, and to 
meet any pressure intervening- in that c[uai'ter, will be a subject for your 
early consideration, 

The possession of both banks of the Mississippi reducing to a single point 
the defence of that river, its water, and the counti-y adjacent, it becomes 
highly necessary to provide for that point a more adequate security. Some 
position above its mouth, commanding the passag'e of the river, should be 
rendered sufficiently strong to cover the srmcd vessels, which may be sta- 
tioned therefor defence ; and, in conjunction with tliem to present an insu- 
perable obstacle to any force, attempting to pass. The approaches to the 
city of New-Orleans, from the eastern qustter also will require to be ex» 
sanined, and more effectually gur.rded. * For the internal support of the 
country, the encouragement of a strong settle, rcent on the western side of 
t!ie Mississippi, within the reach of New-Orleans, will be worthy the consi- 
deration of the legislature. 

The gvm-boats authorized by an act of the last session, are so advanced, 
tiiat they will be reaciy for service in tlie ensuing spring. Circumstances 
permitted us to allow the time necessary for their more solid construction. 
As a much larger number will still be wantir.g to place our sea-port towns 
Ami w;iteji i.i that state of deicnc«to vkich \vc arc competent, and llicj en- 



94 AMERICAN STATE PAPEKS. 

titled, a similaf appropriation for a further provision of them is recommend- 
ed for the ensuing' year. 

A furtlier appropriation will also be necessary for repairing fortifications 
already established, and the erection of such other works as may have real 
cifect in obstructiutj the approach of an enemy to our sea-port towns, or 
their I'cmaining' before them. 

In a country whose constitution is derived from the will of the people, di- 
rectly expressed by their free suiTrag-es ; where the principal executive 
functionaries, and those of the legislature, are renewed by them at short 
periods ; where, under tlie characters of jurors, they exercise in person tlie 
greatest portion of tlie judiciary powers ; where tiie laws are consequently so 
formed and ailministered as so bear with equal weigiit and favour on all, 
restraining' no man in the pursuits of honest industry^ and securing' to every 
one the pi-operty which that acquires, it would not be supposed that any 
safeguards could be needed ag'ainst insurreciion, or cnterprize, on tlie pub- 
lick peace or authorit}'. The law^s, howevei', aware that these should not 
be trusted to moral restraints only, have wisely provided punishment tor 
these crimes when committed. But would it not be salutary to give also 
tlie means of preventing their cojumission ? Where an enterprize is medi- 
tated by private individuals, against a foreign nation, in amity with tlie Uni- 
ted States, powers of prevention, to a certaiii extent, are given by the laws. 
V/ould they not be as reasonable, and useful, where the enterprize prepar- 
ing is against tlie United States ? — While adverting to this branch of law, it 
is proper to observe, that, in enterprizcs meditated against foreign nations, 
the ordinary process of binding to the observance of the peace and good be- 
ha\-iour, couid it be extended to acts to be done out of the jui-isdiction of the 
United States, would be eflectual in some cases where the offender is able 
to keep out of sight every indication of his piu'pose which could draw oil 
him the exercise of the powers now given by law. 

The states on the coast of Barbary seem generally disposed at present to 
resjiect our peace and friendsJiip. With Tunis done, some uncertainty re- 
Kiains. Persuaded that it is our interest to maintain our peace with them o;a 
equal terms, or not at all, I propose to send in dye time a reinforcement into 
theMediterrane:in,xinless pre^nous inlin'mation shall shew it to be unnecessary. 

We continue to receive pi'oofs of tlie growing attachment of our Indian 
neighbours, and of tlieir disposition to place all their interests under the patron- 
age of the United States. These dispositions are inspired by their confidence 
in our justice and in the sincere concern we feel for their welfare. And a^f 
Jong as v/e discharge these Iiigli and honoiu'able functions with the integrity 
and good filth which alone can entitle us to tlieir continuance, we may ex- 
pect to reap the just reward in their peace and friendship. 

The expedition of Messrs. Lewis, and Clai-kc, for exploring the ^nver 
Missoiu'i, and the best communleatjon from that to the Pacinck Ocean, has 
!iad all the success wliich could Isave been expected. They have traced the 
Missouri nearly to its source, descended the Columbia to the Pacifick 
Ocean, ascertained with accvracy the geograpliy of tliat interesting comniu- 
nication across our continent, learnt the character of the country, of its 
commerce and inhabitants, and it is -but justice to say that Messrs. Lewi* 
and Clarke, and their brave companions, have, by tliis arduous service, de- 
ser^"ed well of their country. 

The attempt to explore the Red River, under the direction of Mr. Free- 
man, though conducted with a zeal and prudence meriting entire approba- 
tion, has not been equally successful. After proceeding up about six hund- 
red miles nearly as far as the French settlements had extended, while th? 
country was in their possession, our geographers were obll2;ed to retvir;^ 
without completing- their woi'k. 



iiiiRICAN STATE PAPERS. Is 

Very useful additions have also been matle to our knowledge of the t/l'is- 
sissippijby Lieutt-njint Pike, win) has ascended it to its source, and wliose 
journal and map, giving- Uie details of his journey, will shortly be ready for 
communication to both houses of congTess. I'hose of Messrs. Lewis, 
Clarke ajid Freeman, will require further time to be dig'cstcd and prepared. 
Tlit^e importjuit surveys, in addition to tliosc before possessed, furtvish ma- 
terials for commencing an accurate map of the Mississippi and its wcstciii , 
waters. Some principal rivers however remain still to be explored, toward.s 
which the authorisation cf congress, by moderate appropriations, will be 
requisite. 

1 congratulate you, fellow-citizens, on the approach of the period at whicH. 
you moy interpose joiu* autJiority constitutionally, to withdraw the citizens of 
the United States from all fuitlier participation in those violations of human 
rights, which have been so long continued on the unofTendiiig inhabitants of 
Africa, and whicli the moralil,} , the reputation, and the best interests of 
our country, have long been eager to proscribe. Although no law you may 
pass can take prohibltoiy eHlL'Ct till the first day of the year one-thotisami 
eight huntU'cd :.nd eight, yet tlie intervening period is not too long to prevent, 
by timely notice, expeditions, wliirh camiot be completed befoi'e tiiat day. . 

The receipts at the treasury, during- tlie year ending on the 30th day of 
Sept. last, have amotuited to neai'fdteen millions of dollars : wliich have en- 
abled us, after meeting the current demands, to pay two millions sevea 
Uundred thousand doll.ars of the American claims, in pail of the price of 
Louisiana ; to pay, of the fimded del;t, upwards of tlu-ee millions of prin- 
cipal, and nearly four of interest, and iuaddiiion to reimbui'se, in the comso 
of the present month, near two millions of five and a half per cent, stock. 
These paymerits and i-cimbursements of the funded debt, witli those whicli 
have been made in tiie four years and a half preceding, will, at the close of 
the present yer-r, have extinguished upw.ads of 23 niiliions of principal. 

The duties composing the iVIediterranean fund will cease, by law, at t'l? 
end of the present session. Considering, however, that they are levled 
chiefly on luxuries, and tliat we have an impost of salt, a necessary of life^ 
the free use of which otherwise is so important, I recommend to your consi- 
ileration the suppression of tlie duties on salt, and the continuation of the 
Mediterranean fund, instead thereof, for a *hort time, after which that also 
will become unnecessary for any purpose now within contemplation. 
. When both of these branches of revenue shall, in this way, be relinquish- 
ed, there will still, ere lor.g^ be an accumulation of monies in the treasury, 
beyond the instalments of puljlick debt which we are permitted by contract 
to j)ay. They cannot then, without a modification, assented to by the pub- 
Uck ci'editors, be apphed to the extinguishment of this debt, and the com- 
plete liberation of our revenues, the most desirable of all objects. Nor, if 
our peace continues, will they be wanting for any other existing purpose. 
The question, therefore, now comes forward, to what other objects shrdl 
fhese sm-plusses be appropriated, and the whole surplus of i4npost, afierthe 
f-'.itlre discharge of the publick debt, and during those intervals when the 
pm-iwses of war shafl net call for them ? Shall we suppress the impost, and 
give that advantage to foreign over domestick manufactures ? On a few arti- 
cles, of more general and necessary use, the suppression, in due season, will 
dovibtless be right ; b;ft the great mass of the articles', on whicli impost is 
paid, are foreign luxuries, purchased by those only who are rich enough ta 
afford themselves the use of them. — Their patriotism would certainly pre- 
fer its continuance and application to the great piu'po.ses of the pub'it-k edu- 
cation, roads, rivers, canals, and such other objects of publick improvement 
M it may be thought proper to ad4 to the con^titatloaal eimmeratiou of fu-JU 

LOFC. 



i£ AMEUICA.V SlATi PAPli^.S. 

eral powers. By these operations, new cliannels of c"imaiii'i'ir,a.t(on will be 
opened between t!ie States ; the lines of separation will disappear, their 
interests will be iilentilied, and their union cemented by new and indissolu- 
ble ties. Education is here placed among' the articles of publick care, not 
that it would be proposed to take its ordinary branches out of the hands of 
private enterprize, which manages so much better all the concerns to which 
it ia equal ; but a publick institution can alone supply those sciences, 
■which, though rai-ely c<:lled for, are yet necessary to complete the circle, all 
the parts of which contribute to the improvement of the coimtiy, and some of 
them to its preservation. The subject is now })roposedfor the consideration 
of congress, because, if approved, by the time the state legislatures 
shall have deliberated on this extension of the federal trusts and the laws 
shall be passed, and other ai-rangements made for their execution, the neces- 
sary funds will be on hand, and without employment. I suppose an amend- 
ment of the constitution, by the consent of the States, necessary, because the 
objects now recommended are not among those enumerated in the consti- 
tution, and to which it permits the publick monies to be applied. 

The present consideration for a nation:d establishment for education par- 
ticularly, is rendered proper by this circumstance also, that, if Congress, 
approving the proposition, shall yet think it more eligible to foimd it on a 
donation of lands, they have it now in their power to endovr it with those 
■which will be among the earliest to produce the necessary income. This 
foundation would have the advantage of being independent on war, which 
may suspentl other improvements by requiring for its own purposes the re- 
sources destined for tlicm. 

This, fellow citizens, is the state of the publick interests, at the present 
moment, and according to the information novir possessed. But such is the 
eituation of the nations of Em-ope, and such too the predicament in which 
■we stand with some of them, tliat we cannot rely witVi certainty on the pre- 
sent aspect of our atlairs, that may change from moment to inomcnt, dur- 
ing the course of your session, or after you shall have separated. Om* duty 
therefore is to act u]Don things as tliey are, and to make a reasonable proAi- 
sion for wliatever they may be. Were armies to be raised whenever a 
speck of war is visible in our horizon, we never should have been without 
them. OiU" resources would have been exhausted on dangers which have 
never happened, instead of being reserved for what i.s really to take place. 
A steady, perhaps a quickened pace, in pi-eparations for the defence of our 
eeaport towns and waters, an early settlement of the most exposed and vul- 
nerable parts of our country, a militia so organized that its effective portions 
can be called to any point in the union, or volmiteers instead of them, to 
serve a sufricient time, are means which may always be ready, yet never 
preying on our resources until actually called into use. They will maintain 
tlie publick interests, while a more permanent force shall l>e in a course of 
preparation. But much will depend on the promptitude with which tliese 
means can be brought into activity. If war be forced upon us in spite of 
our long and %ain appeals to the justice of nations, rapid and vigorous 
movements, in its outset, will go f:ir towards securing us in its course and 
issue, and towards throvring its bui'thens on those who render necessary the 
resort from reason to force. 

Tiie result of our negociatlons, or such incidents in their course as may 
enable us to infer their probable issue ; such further movemeiits also, on 
our western frontk-rs as may shew whether war is to be pressedtliere, while 
ncgociation is protracted elsewhere, shall be communicated to you from 
time to time, as they become known to me ; with whatever other informa- 
tion I possess or may receive, wliich may aid yo-ar deliberations on the great 
•utional interests committed to \'om' charge, TH. JEFFERSON. 



SECOND PART. 



tmamm 



THE POLITICAL CABINET. 



JRegistra in usuin historic coniplectuntur principum edicta, senatuum decreta, 
Judiciorum processus, orationts publice habitae, epistolts publice missx, et 
stTnilia, absque narrationis contextu, sive Jilo continuo. — Bacon de Aug. Sci. 



LETTER 

From the Secretary of the Treasury^ enclosing a Report^ prepar- 
ed in obedience to the acts supplementary to the act, entitled 
« ^n Act to establish the Treasury Department" 

Sir, 

I HAVE the honour to enclose a Report, prepared in obedience to the act' 
entitled " an act to establish the treasury department." 
I have the lionour to be, very respectfully, 

Sir, your obedient servant, 

ALBERT GALLATIN. 

The honourable the Speaker of the 
Souse of Representativts. 

REPORT. 

In obedience to the directions of the act supplementary to the act, entitled 
" An act to establish the Treasury Department," the Secretary of the 
Treasury respectfully submits the following Report and Estimates : 

REVENUE £5* RECEIPTS. 

The nett revenue arising- from duties on merchandize 
and tonnage which accrued during the yeai* 1804, amount- 
ed, after deducting that portion which arose from the ad- 
ditional duties constituting the Mediterranean fund, to 5512,673,558 

And that which accrued during the year 1805, amount- 
ed, after making a similar deduction, as will appear by the 
statement (A) to 13,033,823 

It is ascertained that the nett revenue which has accrued during the three 
first quarters of the year 1806, exceeds that of the corresponding quarters 
©f the year 1805 ; and that branch of the revenue may, exclusively of the 
Mediterranean fund, be safely estimated for the pi'esent at thirteen millions 
of dollars. 

The statement (B) exhibits in detail the several species of merchandize, 
and other sources, from which that revenue was collected during the year 
1805. 

It appears by the statement (C) that the sales of the publick lands, have, 
during the year ending on the 30th Sept. 1806, exceeded 473,000 acres. 
Tlie actual payments by purchasers have, during that period, amounted to 
850,000 dollars, of which sum near 700,000 dollars have been paid in specie, 
and the residue in stock of the publick debt. The specie receipts from that 
source may, after deducting charges and the five per cent, reserved for 
l-oads, be estimated for the ensuing year at five hundred thousand dollars. 

The receipts arising from the permanent revenue of 
the United States, may therefore, without including the 
arrears of direct tax and internal revenues, the d«ti«« 

Appendix, Vol. IV. A 



2 AMEJlieAN STATE PAPERS. 

:on postage and other incidental branches, be computed 
for the year 1807, at thirteen millions and five hundred 
thousand dollars, 13,500,000 

And the payments into the treasury, during the same 
yeai% on account of the temporary duties coJistituting' the 
Mediterranean fund, are estimated at one million of dollars, 1,000,000 



14,500,000 



Making in the whole an aggregate of fourteen millions and five bimdred 
thousand dollars. 

EXPENDITURES. 

The permanent expenses are estimated at g 11,400,000, and consist of 
the following items, viz. 

1. The annual appropriation of eight millions of dollars 
for the payment of the principal and interest of the pub- 
lick debt, of which sum not more tlaan 3,600,000 dolls, 
wfll, for the year 1807, be applicable to the payment of 

interest, ' 8,000,008 

2. For the civil department, and all domestick expenses of 
a civil nature including invalid pensions, the light-house 
and mint establishments, the expenses of surveying pub- 
lick lands, the foui-th instalment of the loan due to Mary- 
land, and a sum of 130,000 dolls, to meet such miscella- 
neous appropriations,not included in the estimates as may 

be made by Congress, 1,150,000 

3. For expenses incident to the intercourse with foreign 

nations, including the permanent appropriation for Algiers, 200,000 

4. For military and Indian departments, including trading 
houses, and the permanent appropriation for certain In- 

dian tribes, 1,150,000 

5. For the naval establishment 900,000 



The extraordinary demands for the year 1807, already au- 
thorized by law, amount to two millions seven hunJdred 
thousand dolls, viz. 

The balance of the American claims assum- 
ed by the French convention, which remained 
unpaid on the 30th Sept. last amounting to 700,000 

And the two millions of dollars appropi'iated 
by the act of the 13th of February, 1806, mak- 
ing provisions for defraying any extraordinary 
expenses attending the intercourse between the 
United States and foreign nations, 2,000,000 



11,400,00(5 



2,700,000 
14,100,000 



Making altogether fourteen millions one hundred thousand dollars. From 
which it appears, that besides a surplus of four Imndred thousand dollars, 
the resources of the ensuing year will be sufficient to meet the current de- 
mands ; and to discharge, without recurring to the loan authorized by the 
last mentioned act, the extraordinary appropriation of two millions for fo- 
reign intercourse. 

it is here proper to state, that under the authority given by that act, a 
credit of one million of dollars has been opened in Holland to the ministere 
of the United States appointed to treat with Spain. Siiould the credit be 
used, Ihe million will be charged to the proper appropriation ; but althouprh 
the balance chargeable to the expcnditiu'e of the j ear 1807, will in that 



ASIERICAN STATS PAPERS. 3 

case be only one, instead of two millions, as stated in the above estimate, 
the general result will be the same ; as it will then be necessary to replace 
in Holland the miUion thus employed, for a difierent object than the pay- 
ment ot the foreign debt, to whicli it now stands charged. 

The balance in the treasiuy amounted, on the 30th day of Sept. 1805, 
to 4,558,664 dolls. 2 cents, and on the 30th day of September, 1806, 
to 5,496,969 dollars, 77 cents. But it will, on account of the heavy pay- 
ments to he made in the course of this month, for the publick debt, be pro- 
bubly reduced on the 1st January, 1807, to a sum not much exceeding four 
millions of dollars. 

PUBLICK DEBT. 

The annexed note of the proceedings cf the commissioners of the sink- 
ing fund, marked (E) shows that a considerable portion of the annual ap- 
propriation of eight millions of dollars was applicable this year to the reim- 
bui'sement of purchase of the domestick debt : no more than 17, 517 dol- 
lars 61 cents were offered at market price, and accordingly purchased. 
The reimbursement of the navy 6 per cent, stock, amounting to 711,700 
dollars, was therefore effected on the 30th day of Sept. last, and that of the 
5 1-2 per cent, stock, amounting to 1,847,500 dollars, is advertised for the 
liit of Jan. next. The payment of the last mentioned sum will be made by the 
treasury in tlie course of this month. Although a more than usual portion 
of the appropriation for tlie callendar year, 1806, falls, for that reason, on 
the last quarter, it appears by the statement (D) that the pajTnents on ac- 
count of the principal of the publick debt, have, during the year ending on 
the 30th day of Sept. 1806, amounted to neai* three millions two hundi'ed 
and fifty thousand dollars. Dollars. 

It appears by the same statement, that the payments on 
account of the principal of the publick debt, have from the 
1st of April, 1801, to tlie 30tli of* Sept. 1806, amounted to 21,203 903 50 

The jjayments on the same account to be made by the 
treasury in the course of tliis month, are — 

Fpr the reimbursement of the five and a 
half per cent, stock, 1,847,500 

For the annual reimbursement of the 
six per cent, and deferred stocks, 993,389 19 

Amounting together, to , 2,840,889 19 



24,044,792 74 



And making the total of principal of the publick debt, reimbursed from 
the first of April, 1801, to the first of January, 1807, more than twenty-four 
millions of dollars. 

During' the same period there have also been paid to Great-Britain, in sa- 
tisfaction and discharge of the money whicli the United States might have 
been Hable to pay in pursuance of tlie provisions of the sixth article of tlie 
treaty of 1794, two millions six hundred and sixty-four thousand dollars ; 
and to the holders of bills di-awn by the minister of the United States, at 
Paris, on account of American claims assumed by the convention with 
France a sum not exceeding tliree millions and fifty thousand dollars ; nei- 
ther of which sums is included in the preceding statement of debt redeemed. 

As the only paits of the publick debt which the United Statas have a 
right to reimbiu-se during the year 1807 consist of the annual reimburse- 
ments of the six per cent, and deferred stocks, estimated at 1,540,707 dol- 
lars ; and of the four and h^df per cent, stock, amountlngto 176,000 dollars,' 
it will not 1)6 jH-acticable, unless purchases can be efl^ected within the hmits 
prescribed by Uw, to apply, during that year, the whole of the annual ap- 
propriation of tight millions of dollars. The unexpended balance, together 
w;tb appropi-iations for the yeor 1808, will enable the United States to re- 
imburse, on tlie 1st January, 1809, the whole of the eight per cent, stoci', 
y/liich is irredeemable before that day. 



4 AMERICAN STATB PAPERS. 

But In otitt that congress may have a clear view of tlie situation ef the 
publick debt, after the year 1808, and be enabled to decide on the propriety 
of maiiing further legislative provisions for that object, it appears necessary 
to state distinctly : 1st. The operations which will take place in relatioa 
to the debt during the years 1807 and 1808 : 2dly. The several species and 
aggi'egate of debt, which will have been extinguislied between the 1st 
April, 1801, and the 1st January, 1809 : 3dly. The several species and ag- 
gregate of debt remaining unpaid on the last mentioned day : 4thly. A 
comparative view of the revenue and annual payments on account of the 
debt after that day. 

I. The payments to be made during the years 1807 and 1808, on account 
of the principal and interest of the publick debt, consists of the following 
items, viz. Dollars. 

Interest and reimbm'sement of the six per cent, and 
deferred stocks, §,688,296 08 

Of whicli sum, the sum required for 
interest, is 3,512,337 83 

And the reimbursement of principal will 
amount to 3,175,958 25 



6,688,296 08 
Interest and charges on all the other species of debt, 3,529,457 5ft 

Principal of the eight, and four and a half per cent. 
Stocks, 6,538,400 



Making altogether, 16,756,153 58 

That is to say, for interest, ?',041,795 33 

And in reimbursement of principal, 9,714,358 25 



16,756,153 58 
This sum exceeds, by only 756,000 dolls, the sixteen miUions appropri- 
ated by law for those 2 years, and that difference may be supplied, accord- 
ing to law, from the sui plusses of revenue already accrued, which are suf- 
ficient for that purpose ; and which it will be eligible to apply in that manner, 
in order that tlie United States may not continue to pay an interest of eight 
per cent, any longer than they are compelled to do it by the terms of the 
loan. 

II. The amount of debt redeemed from the 1st April, 
1801, to the 1st of Jan. next, has been already stated to be 24,44,792 74 

And the principal which will be reimbiu'sed during the 
yeai-s 1807 and 1808, amounts by the preceding statement to 9,714,358 25 

Making together, more than thirty-three millions seven 
hundred and fifty thousand dollai's, reimbursed between , . . 

the 1st of April, 1801, and the 1st of Jan. 1809, 33,759,150 99 

Which sum consists of the following items, viz. 

The whole of the foreign debt, 10,236,108 05 

Tilt whole of the loans formerly obtained from the bank 
of the United States, and of the navy six, five and a half, 
four and a half, and eight per cent, stocks. 12,537,600 

Annual reimbursement of the gix per cent, and deferred 
stocks, 10,631,575 67 

Payments in various species of stock for publick lands, 
stock purchased, and unfunded debt reimbursed, 353,867 27 

33,759,150 99 



III. The debt remaining impaid on the 1st day of January, 1809, 
will consist of the following species : 
-Unredeemed amount of old six per cent and deferred 



AVEKieAN 9TATE ?AF£11S> 5 

stocks, reimburseable only at the rate of eight per cent, 
a year (tor piincipul and interest) on the nominal amount, 27,142,357 21 
Three per cent, stocks, 19,01';/,481 5S 

1796 six per cent, stock, redeemable in 1819, 80,U00 00 

Louisiana stock, reimburscuble m four annual instal- 
ments, in the years 1818, 1819, 1820 and 1821, 11,250,000 00 

57,491,838 77 

Amounting altogether to near fifty-seven millions and five hundred tliou- 
sand dollars. 

The Louisiana stock cannot be reimbursed before the period fixed by the 
contracc ; the gradual operation of the annual reimbursement will extin- 
guish the old six per cent, in the yeai- 1818, and tlie deferred stoct in 1824 j 
after which yeai", tiie only remaining incumbrance wiU be the interest on the 
three per cent, stock, which in its present shape, may be considered as irre- 
deemable. Purchase camiot be relied on, as the application of even an in- 
considerable sum would raise tlie stocks above the prices limitted by law. 
It follows that aU tlie species of debt, on which the entire annual appropria- 
tion of 8,000,000 of duUars covdd operate, will have been reimbursed prior 
to the year 1809 ; that the remaining debt cannot, without Sv-me modifica- 
tions, assented to by the publick creditors,be more rapidly or completth dis- 
charged than is here stated ; and that the annual payments on that ai count, 
will, after the yeai- 1808, and prior to the year 1818, he reduced to the in- 
terest and annual relmbui'scment, amounting to near 4,600,000, as will 
more fully appear by the annexed table, marked (G.) 

IV. The revenue derived from customs during the year 1802, which was 
a year of European peace, was much less in proportion th^n that of an) of 
the immediately preceding or Iblluwing years, and yet exceeded ten mdlions 
of doLlai's. As it has been ascert..ined that the population of the United 
States increases at the rate of thirty -five per cent, in ten years ; the revenue 
derived from customs for the year 1812, may be estimated at thirteen mil- 
lions five hundred tliousand dollars, to which, adding only five hundred 
thousand dollars, for the annual proceeds of the sides of pubhck lands will 
give fourteen millions of dollars, for tlie total revenue of that year, or for the 
average revenue of the years 1809 — 1815. And this must be considered as 
a very moderate computation, since it does not include tlie revenue derived 
firom New-Orleans ;' is predicated on the supposition that tlie Avealth of the 
United States increases in no greater ratio than their population ; and does 
not exceed the sum, wliich, exclusively ot the Mediterranean fund was re- 
ceived last year into the treasuiy. 

The annual payments on account of the publick*debt, will, during the same 
period, amount, as has been already stated, to 4,600,000 dolls. All the ovher 
expenses of the U. S., whether domestick or foreign, of a civil natm-e or for tlie 
support of the existing militio-y and naval establishments, do not at present ex- 
ceed §3,500,000. The total annual expenditure, allowing ^400,000 a year for 
contingencies, may therefore be estimated after the year 1803, ;:t eight mil- 
lions and a half ; which deducted from a revenue of fourteen millions, will 
leave a nett annual sm-plus of five millions and a half of dollars. 

The question now recurs, whether a portion of that surplus woidd not be 
most advantageously employed in hastening the reduction of the debt ? 
Whether some mode may not be devised to provide, within a shojt period, 
for its final and complete reimbursement, and thereby release the publick re- 
venue from every inciup.brance ? This can ojiiy be effected by a modification 
of the debt assented to b}' the publick creditors ; and a conversion of the old 
six per cent, deferred, and three per cent, stocks, on terms mutually beiie- 
ficial, into a common six per cent, stock, redeemable within a limited time, 
appeared the most simple and eligible, if not the only practicable phm that 
can he adopted. For its details a reference Is respectfully ni:-vde to a letter 
written in J.iniiary last, to tlie chairman of the committee of ways and 
means, copy of wliich raai-ked (F.) is annexed. It will only be necessary 
to state, that if such a plasi should be s;tnctioiied by congress, and accepted 



S AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

by the crcj^tors, those several species of debt amounting' on the 1st Jtn.1869, 
to something more than g46,000,000, would be converted into a 6 per cent, 
stocic, amounting to less than §40,000,000, wixich the continued annual ap- 
propriation of g8,00u,0U0 would (besides paymgthe interest on the Louisiana 
debt) reimburse within a period of less than seven years, or before the end of 
the year 1815, as will appear by the table marked (H.) 

Tlie total annual expenditure for those seven years would then, allowing 
still 3,500,009 dollars for current expenses, and 400,000 doUai-s for contin- 
gencies, amount to something- less than twelve millions of dollars ; which 
deducted from a revenue of fourteen millions of dollars, would still leave 
after tlie year 1808, a cleai* surplus of more than t\vo millions of dollars, ap- 
phcable to such new objects of general improvement or national defence, as 
the legislature might direct, and existing circumstances require. And af- 
ter the year 1815, no other incumbrance would remain on the revenue, 
than the interest and reimbursement of the Louisiitna stock ; the last pay- 
ment of whicli in the year 1821, would complete the final extinguishment of 
the publick debt. 

All which is respectfully submitted. 

ALBERT GALLATIN, 

Secretary of the Treasury. 

Treasury Department, Dec. 5, 1806. 



LETTER FROxVl CAPT. CLARK, 

ONE or THE PARTY APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT TO EX- 
PLORE THE MISSOURI, &C. TO HIS BROTHER. 

Dear Brother, St. Louis, 23d Sept. 1806. 

We arrived at this place at 12 o'clock to day from the Pacifick Ocean, 
■where we rem;iined during the last winter, near the entrance of the Colum- 
bia river. This station we left Oil the arth of March last, and should have 
reached St. Louis early in Auguat, had we not been detained by the snow 
which barred our passage across tlie Rocky Mountains, until the 24th of 
June. In returning through tliose mountains we divided ourselves into se- 
veral parties, digressing from the route, by wliich we v.rent out, in order the 
more effectupJly to explore the countr}', and discover tlie most practicable 
route which does exist across the continent by the way of the Missouri and 
Columbia riven. In this we were completely successful, and have there- 
fore no hesitation in declaring-, that such as nature has permitted we have 
discovered the best route which does exi.st aci'oss tlie continent of North 
America in that direction. Such is that by way of the Missouri to the foot 
of the rapids below the great falls of that river, a distance of 2575 miles, 
thence by land p.issing by tlie Rocky Mountains, to a navigable part of the 
Kooskooske 340 ; and witli the Kooskooske 73 miles, Lewis's river 154 
miles, and the Columbia 413 miles to the Pacifick Ocean, making the total 
distance from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi, to the dis- 
ciiarge of the Columbia into the Pacifick Ocean 3555 miles. The naviga- 
tion of the Missouri may be deemed good — its difficulties arise from its 
falling banks, timber imbedded in the mud of its channel, its sand-bars and 
the steady rapidity of its current, all which may be overcome with a great 
degree of certainty, by using the necessary precautions. The passage by 
land of 340 miles from the foils of the Missouri to the Kooskooske, is the 
most formidable part of the tract proposed across the continent. Of tliis 
distance, 200 miles is along a good road, and 140 miles over tremendous 
mountains, which for 60 miles are covered with eternal snows. A passage 
over tliese mountains is, however, practicable from the latter part of June 
to the last of September ; and die cheap rate at which horses are to be ob- 
tained from the Indians of the Rocky Mountains, and West of them, re- 
duces the expenses of trr.nsportation over this portage to a mere trifle. The 
navigation of the Kooskooske, Lewis's river, and the Columbia, is safe and 
good fx-om the first of April to the middle of August, bj making tliree poi'- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS^ 7 

ti»c» on the latter river. The first of wliich, in descending is 1200 pace* 
at the falls of Columbia 261 miles up that river, the second of two miles at 
the long narrows 6 miles below the falls, and a third, also of 2 miles at the 
great rapids 65 miles still lower down. The tide flows up tlie Columbia 
183 miles, and within 7 miles of the great rapids. Large sloops may with 
safety ascend as high as tide water, and vessels of 300 tons burthen, reach 
the entrance of the Multhomah river, a large Southern branch of the Co- 
lumbi.i, which takes its rise on the confines of New-Mexico, with the Cal- 
lerado and .\postle's rivers, discharging itself into the Columbia 125 miles 
from its entrance into the Pacifick Ocean. I consider this track across the 
continent of immense advantage to the fur trade, as all the furs collected in 
nine-tenths of the most valuable fur country in America, may be conveyed 
to the mouth of the Columbia, and shipped from thence to the East-Indies 
by the first of August in each year ; and will of course reach Canton ear- 
lier than the furs which are annually exported from Montreal arrive in G, 
Britain. 

In our outward bound voyage, we ascended to the foot of the rapids be- 
low the great falls of the Missouri, where we arrived on the 14th of June, 
1805. Not having met with any of the natives of the Rocky Mountains, we 
■were of course ignorant of the passes by land, which existed, through 
those mountains to the Columbia river ; and had we even known the route 
■we were destitute of horses, wliich would have been indispensibly necessa- 
ry to enable us to transport the requisite quantity of ammunition and other 
stores to ensure the remaining part of our voyage down the Columbia ; we 
therefore determined to navigate the Missoui'i, as far as it was practicable, 
or unless we met with some of the natives from whom we could obtain 
horses and information of the country. Accordingly we undertook a most 
laborious portage at the falls of the Missouj-i, of 18 miles, which we effect- 
ed with our canoes and baggage by the 3d of July. From hence ascending 
the Missouri, we penetrated the Rocky Mountains at the distance of 71 
miles above the upper pai-t of the portage, and penetrated as far as the 
three forks of that river, a distance of one hundred and eighty miles further. 
Here the Missouri divides into nearly equal branches at the same point. 
The two lai'gest brandies are so nearly of the same dignity, that we did 
not conceive that either of them could with propriety retain the name of 
the Missouri ; and therefore called these streams Jefferson's, Madison's, 
and Gallatin's rivers. Tlie confluence of those rivers is 2848 miles from 
the mouth of the Missouri, by the meanders of that river. We arrived at 
the three forks of the Missouri the 27th of July. Not having yet been so 
fortunate as to meet with the natives, although I had previously made seve- 
ral excursions for that purpose, we were compelled still to continue our 
route by water. 

The most northerly of the three forks,that to which we had given the name 
of Jefferson's river, was deemed tlie most proper for our purpose and we 
accordingly ascended it 248 miles to the upper forks, and its extreme navi- 
gable point ; making the total distance to which we had navigated the wa- 
ters of the Missouri, 3096 miles, of wliich 429 lay within the Rockv moun- 
tains. On the morning of tlie 17th of August, 1805, I arrived at the forks 
of Jefferson's river, where I met captain Lewis, who had previously pene- 
trated witli a party of tlvree men, to the waters of the Columbia, discovered 
a band of the Shoshone nation, and had found means to induce 35 of their 
chiefs and warriors to accompany him to that place. From these people 
we learned that the river on which they reside was not navig.ible, and that. 
a pa.ssage through the mo\uitains in that direction was impracticable ; being 
unwilling to confide in this unfavourable account of the natives, it was con- 
certed between Capt. Lewis and myself, that one of us should go forward 
imrnediately with a small party, and explore the river, while the other. In 
the interim would lav up the canoes at that place, and engage the n.itives 
with their horses to assist in transporting our stores and baggage to the 
camp. Accordingly I set out the next day, passed the dividing mountains 
between tlie waters of the Missouri and Columbia, and desrended the river 
which I since called the East fgrk of Lewis's river, about 70 miles. Find- 



8 AMERICAN STATE JfAPSHS. 

ing- that the Indians' account of the country in the direction of this riv^r 
was correct, I returned and joined capt. Lewis on the 29th of August at 
the Shoslione camp, excessively tatig-ued as you may suppose ; having pass- 
ed mountains ahnost inaccessible, and compelled to subsist on berries dur- 
ing the greater part of my route. We now purchased 2" horses of tiiese 
Indians, and hired a guide, who assured us that he could in 15 days take us 
to a large river in an open country west of these moantains, by a route some 
distance to the north of the river on which they lived, and that by which the 
natives west of the mountains visit the plains of the Missouri, for tlie pur- 
pose of hunting the buffaloe. Every prepiu-ation being made, we sat forward 
■with om' guide on the 31st of August through these tremendous mountains, 
in which we continued until the 22d of September, before we reach the 
lower country beyond them : on our way we met with the Olelashootja 
band of the Tuchapaks, from whom we obtained an accession of seven 
horses and exchanged eight or ten others ; this proved of infinite service to 
us, as we were compelled to subsist on horse beef about eight days before 
we reached the Kooskooske. During oui' passage over those mountains we 
auffei'cd eveiy thing wliich hunger, cold, and fatigue could impose. 

Nor did our difficulties with respect to provisions cease on our arrival 
at the Kooskooske, for although the Pallotepallors, a numerous nation in- 
habiting that country, were extremely hospitable, and for a few trifling arti- 
cles furnished us with abundance of roots and dried salmon, the food to 
•whicii they were accustomed ; we found that we could not subsist on these 
articles, and almost all of us grew sick on eating them ; we were oblig-ed 
therefore to have recourse to the flesh of horses and dogs as food to supply 
the deficiency of our guns, which produced but little meat, as game was 
scarce in the vicinity of our camp on the Kooskooske, where we were com- 
pelled to remain in order to construct our perogues to descend the river. 
At this season the salmon are meagre and form but indiflTcrent food. While 
we remained here I was myself sick for several days, and my friend^Capt. 
Lewis suffered a severe indisposition. 

Having completed four perogues and a small canoe, we gave our horsel 
in charge to the Pallottepallors until we returned, and on the 7th of Oct. i"e- 
embarked for the Pacifick Ocean. We descended by the route I have al- 
ready mentioned. The water of the river being low at this season, we ex- 
perienced much difficulty in descending, we found it obstructed by a gi-eat 
number of diflicult and dangerous rapids, in passing of which our perogues 
several times filled, and the men escaped naiTowly with their fives. How- 
ever, this difficulty does not exist in liigh water, which happens within the 
period which I have previously mentioned. . We found the natives extreme- 
ly numerous and generally friendly, though we have on several occasions 
owed our lives and the fate of the expedition to our number, which consist- 
ed of 34 men. On the 17th of November we reached the ocean, where 
various considerations induced us to spend the winter ; we tlierefore search- 
ed for an eligible situation for that puqiose, and selected a spot on the 
south side oi" a little river, called by tlie natives Netul, which discharges 
itself at a small bar on the south side of the Columbia, and 14 miles within 
point Adams. Here we constructed some log houses, and defended them 
•with a conimon stockade work ; this place we called Fort Clatsop, after 
a nation of that name who were our nearest neighbours. In this couiitry we 
found an abundance of elk, on wliich we subsisted principally during the 
last winter ; we left Fort Clatsop on the 27th of March. On our homeward 
bound voTOge, being much better acquainted with the country we were en- 
abled to take such precautions as in a great measure secured us from tlie 
want of provisions at any time, and greatly lessened our fatigues, when 
compared with those to which we were compelled to submit in our outward 
bound iournev. We have not lost a man since we left the Mandians, a cir- 
cnmstance which I assui-e you is a j^leasing consideration, to rne. As I shall 
shortly be with you,and the post is now waiting, I deem it unnecessary here 
to attempt minutely to detail the occurrences of tlie last eighteen months. 
I tun, See. 5'our afl'ectionate brother, 

' WM, CLARK. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 



presidp:nt'S message 

To the Senate and 

House of Repretentati'ves, tS'c. 

AGREEABLY to the request of the House of Representatives, com- 
municated in their resolution of the 16th inst. I proceed to state under the 
reserve therein expi'essed, information received touching an illegal combi- 
nation of private individuals against the peace and safeiy of the union, and a 
military expedition planned by tiiem against the territories of a power in 
amity wit'i the United States, with the measures I have piu-sued for sup- 
pressing Uie same. 

I had, for some time, been in the constant expectation of receiving such 
i'urther information as would have enabled me to lay before the legislature 
the termination, as well as the beginning and progi-ess of this scene of de- 
pra%ity, so far as it has been acted on the Ohio and its waters. From this 
the state of safety of the lower country might have been estimated on pro- 
bable grounds, and the delay was indulged the rather, because no circum- 
stance had yet made it necessary to call in the aid of the legislative func- 
tions. Information now recenly communicated, has bi'ought us nearly to 
the period contemplated. The mass of what I have received in the course 
of these transactions is voluminous : but little has been given under the 
sanction of an oatli, so as to constitute formal and legal evidence. It is 
chiefly in the form of letters, often containing such a mixture of rumours, 
conjectures and suspicions, as render it difficult to sift out tlie real facts, 
and unadviseable to hazai-d more than general outlines, strengthened by con- 
cui-rent ir.foririation, or the particular credibility of the relator. In this 
state of the evidence, delivered sometimes too under the restriction of 
private confidence, neither safety nor justice will pei'mit the exposing names, 
except that of the principal actor, whose guilt is placed beyond question. 

Some time in the latter part of September, I received intimations that 
designs were in agitation in the Western countiy, unlawful and unfriendly 
to tiie peace of the union ; and that the prime mover in these wrs Aaron 
Burr, heretofore distinguished by the favour of his covmtry. The grounds 
of these intimations being inconclusive, the objects vmcertain, and the fi- 
delity of tliat countiy known to be firm, the only measm'e taken was to 
urge the informants to use their best endeavors to get further insight into 
the designs and proceedings of the suspected persons, and to communicate 
them to me. 

It was not till the latter part of October that the objects of the conspiracy 
began to be perceived, but still so blended and involved in ni} sterv, that 
nothing distinct could be singled out for pursuit. In that state of \m- 
certainty, as to the crime contemplated, the acts done, and the legal course 
to be pursued, I tliought it best to send to the scene, where these things 
were principally in transaction, a person in whose integi'ity, underst.i.nding 
and discretion, entire confidence could be reposed, with Instructions to in- 
vestigate the plots going on. to enter into conference (for which he had suf- 
ficient credentids) with tiie governors*, and all other officers, civil and mih- 
taiy, and with their aid, to do on the sjjot whatever should be necessarj' to 
discover the designs of the conspirators, arre.st their means, bring their 
persons to punisliment, and to call out tlie force of the country to suppress 
any unlawful cnterprize, in which it should be found they were engaged. By 
this time it was known that many boats were undei- preparation, stores of 
provisions collcctincr, and an unusual number of susj-icious characters in mo- 
Ap;«ndix. Vol IV. B 



10 AMERICAN STATJE PAPEHS. 

tion on tlie Ohio and its waters. Besides dispatching tlie confidential agent 
to that quarter, orders were at the same time sent to the governours of the 
Drleans and Missisippi territories, and to the commanders of the land and 
naval forces there, to be on their guard agnhist surprise, and in constant 
readiness to resist any enterprize which migiit be attempted on the vessels, 
posts, or other objects under their care : and on the 8th of November, in- 
structions were forwarded to Gen. Wilkinson to hasten an accommodation 
•with the Spanish commandant on the Sabine, and, as soon us that was ef- 
fected, to fall back, with liis principal force to the hitlier biuik of the Missi- 
sippi, for tlie defence of the interesting points on that river. By a lette- re- 
ceived from that othoer, of the 25th of November, but dated October 21st, 
we Icai'nt that a confidentiid agent of Aaron Burr had been deputed to him 
with communications, partly written in cypher, and partly oral, explaining 
his designs, exaggerating his resources, and makhig sucli oli'ers of emolu- 
ment and command, to engage him and the army in his unlawful enterprize, 
as he had flattered himSelf would be successful. The gener;J, with tlie 
honour of a soldier, and fidelity of a good citizen, immediately dispatched a 
trusty oflnicer to me with information of what had passed, pi'oceeded to es- 
tablish sucli an understanding witli the Spanish commandant on the Sabine, 
as permitted him to withdraw his force across the Missisippi, and to enter 
on measures for opposing the projected enterprize. 

The General's lettei-, which came to hand on the 25th of November, as 
has been mentioned, aiid some other information, received a few days ear- 
lier, when bi'ought together, developed Burr's general designs, different 
parts of which only had been revealed to difl:ercnt informants. It appeared 
that he contemplated two distinct objects, which might be carried on either 
jointly or separately, and either the one or tlie other first as circumstances 
"shculd direct. One of these was the severance of the union of these states 
by the Allegany mountains, tlie other an attack on Mexico. A third object 
was provided, merely ostensible, to wit, the settlement of the pretended 
purchase of a tract of country on the Washita, claimed by a baron Bastrop. 
This was to serve as the pretext for all liis preparations, an allurement for 
such followers as really wished to acquire settlements in that country, and 
a cover under which to retreat in the event of a final discomfitui'e of both 
branches of his real design. 

He found at once that the attachment of the western oountry to tlie pre- 
sent union was not to be shaken ; that its dissolution could not be effected 
with the consent of the inhabitants ; and that his resources were inadequate^ 
as yet, to effect it by force. Pie took liis course then at once, determined 
to seize on New-Orleans, phmder the bank there, possess himself of the 
military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedition to Mexico, and to 
this object all his moans and preparations were now directed. He collec- 
ted from all the quarters where himself, or his agents possessed influence, 
all the ardent, restless, desperate, and disaffected persons, who were ready 
for any enterprize analagous to their characters. He seduced good and 
well-meaning citizens, some by assurances that he possessed the confidence 
of the government, and was acting under its secret patronage ; a pretence 
which procured some crecUt from the state of our differences with Spain ; 
and othei's by offers of land in Bastrop's claim on the Washita. 

This was the state of my hiformation of his proceedings about the last of 
November ; at which time therefore it was first possible to take specifick 
measures to meet them. The proclamation of November 27, two days af er 
the receipt (>f General Wilkinson's information, was now issiied. Ordei s 
we-.-e dispatched to every interesting point on the Ohio and Misiisippi, from 
rittsbiu'g to New-Orleans, f )r tiie employment of such, force, either of tlu- 
rei^-ulars or of the nuiitia, and of such pro- eedings also of tl\e civil author- 
ities, as might enable tlsem to seize on all boats and stores provided for the 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 1 1 

cnterprize, to arrest the persons concerned, and to suppress effectually the 
funlicr progress ot tlie eiiterprize. A little before the receipt of these or- 
ders in the state of Ohio, oui" confidential a^ent, who liad been diligently 
employed in investiguting the conspiracy, had acquired sufhcient information 
to open himself to the governour of that state, and to apply for the immedi- 
a.te exertion of the authority and power of tlie state to crush the combina- 
tion. Governour Tiffin ai\d the legislature, with a prompitude, an cnergj', 
and patriotick zeal, which entitle them to a distinguished place in the liiiec- 
tion of tlicir sister slates, ellected the seizure of ail t!ie boats, pnnisions, 
and otiier prepui-atlons within their reach. Mid thus gave a lust blow, mate- 
rially disabling the enterprlzc in its outset. 

In Kentucky a premature attempt to bring Burr to justice, without suf- 
ficient evidence for his conviction, had produced a popular impression in his 
favour, and a general disbelief of his guilt. This gave him an unfortunate 
opportunity of hastening his equipments. The arrival of the proclamation 
and orders, and the application and information of our confidential agent, at 
length iiwukened the authorities of that state to the trutli, and then pro- 
duced the same promptitude and energy of which the neighbovu-ing state 
had set the example. Under an act of their legislature of December 23, 
ntihtia was instantly ordered to different important points, and measures 
taken for doing whatever could yet be done. Some boats (accounts vary 
irom five to double or treble that number) and persons (diflerently estimated 
from one to three hundred) had in the mean time passed the falls of Ohio, 
to rendezvous at the mouth of Cumberland witli others espected down that 
river. Not apprised till very late that any boats were building on Cum- 
berland, the efiiect of the proclamation has been trusted, to for some time in 
the state of Tennessee. But on' the 19tii of December similar communica- 
tions and instructions, with those to the neighbouring states, were dis- 
patched by express to tlie governoui", and a general . flic.er of the western 
<li vision of the state, and on the 23d of December our confidential agent loft 
Frankfort for Nashville to put into activity the means of that state also. 
But by information received yesterday, I learn that on the 22d of December 
Mj-. Burr descended the Cumberland with two boats, merely of accf>mmo- 
dation, carrying witli him from that stale no quota towards his unlawful en- 
ti.rprize. AVhether after tlie arrival of the proclamation, of tlie orders, or 
of our agent, any exertion which could be made by that state, or the orders 
of the governo\u~ of Kentuckj-, for calling out the mihtia at the mouth of 
Cumberland, would be in time to arrest these boats, and those from the 
fails of Ohio is still doubtful. 

On the w'iolo, the lugitives from the Oliio, with their associates from 
Cunibcrland, or any other place in that quarter, cannot threaten Serious dan- 
ger to the city of New-Orleans. 

B> the same express of December 19, orders were sent totlic governours 
of Orleans andMississippi, supplement;. ry to those which had been given on 
the 2.5th of November, to hold the militia of their territories in readiness to 
co-operate for their defence with the regular troops and armed vessels tli^n 
under cominai.d of Gen. Wilkinson. Great alarm indeed was excited at 
Ne w-Orleans by the exaggerated accotints of Mr. Burr, disseminated tlirougli 
Iris emissaries, of the armies and navies he was to assemble there. Gen. 
AV'ilkinson had arrived tliere himself on the 24th of November, ar.d had 'im- 
mf diately put into activity the resources of the place for the })urpose of its 
dc fence, and on the lOih of December he was joined by his troops from Uie 
Sabine. Great zeal was sliewu by the inhabitants genendly ; tlie merchants 
of the place readily agreeing to the most laudable exertions and sacrifices 
for manning the armed vessels with their seamen ; and the other citizen.^: 
manifesting unequixocal fidehty to the unio!), and a spirit of deteimined re- 
sistance to their expected assailants. 



12 AMERICAN STATE PAFEKS. 

Surmises have been hazai-ded that this enterprise is to I'eceive aid from 
(fei'tain foreign powers. But these surmises are without proof or probabil- 
ity. The wisdom of the measures santioned by cong-ress at its last session, 
has placed us in the paths of peace and justice with the only powers with 
whom we had any ditierences ; and nothing- has happened since, which 
makes it either their interest or ours to pursue anotlier course. No change 
of measures lias taken place on our pait, none oug-ht to take place at this 
time. With the one, friendly arrangement was proposed, and the law, 
deemed necessary on the failui-e of tliat, was suspended to give tiine for a 
fair Lrialof the issue. With the s.ime power, friendly arrangement is now 
proceeding, under good expectations, and the same law, deemed necessary 
on failure of tliat, is still suspended to give time for a fair trial of the issue. 
With tlie other negociation was in like manner preferred, ai . 1 provisional 
measvu-es only taken to meet tlie event of rupture. Wliile therefore we do 
not deflect in the slightest degree from the course we then assumed, and 
are still pursuing, with mutual consent, to restore a good understanchng, we 
are not to impute to ^hem practices as irreconcileable to interest as to good 
faith, and changing necessarily the relations of peace and justice between 
us to tiiose of war. These siu-mises are therefore to be imputed to the 
vauntings of tlie aut'ior of this enterprize, to multiply his partizans, by mag- 
nifying tlie belief of his prospects and support. 

IBy letters from General Wilkinson, of the 14th and 18th of December, 
which came to hand two days after the date of the resolution of the House 
of Representatives, that is to say, on the morning of tlie 18th inst. I received 
the impoj'tatit affidavit, a copy of which I now communicate, with extracts 
of so much of the letters as come within tlie scope of the resolution. By 
these it will be seen that of three of the principal emissaries of Mr. Burr, 
whom the General had caused to be apprehended, one had been liberated by 
Habeas Corpus, and tv/a others, being tliose particularly employed in the 
endeavour to corrupt the General and army of the United States, have been 
embarked by him for ports in the Atlantick states, proba])ly on tlie consid- 
eration that an impartial trial could not be expected during- the present agi- 
tations of New-Orleans, and that thai city was not as yet a safe place of 
confinement. As soon .as these persons shall arrive, they will be delivered 
to the custody of the law, and left to .such course of trial, both as to place 
and pi'ocess, as its functionai-ies nuiy direct. The presence of the highest 
judicial authorities, to be assembled at this place within a few days, tlie 
means of pursuing a sounder course of proceedings hei'e than elsewhere, 
and the aid of the executive means, should the judges liave occasion to use 
them, render it equally desirable for the criminal, as tor the publick, that, 
being' already removed from the place where they were apprehended, 
the arst regular arrcijt should take place here, and the course of proceedings 
receive liere tlicir proper direction. 

Jan. 22, ISOr. TH : JEFFERSON. ^ 



Extract of a letter from Gen. Jaines Wick2US07i, dated JVctv-Grleans, 
Dec. 14, 1806. 
\ 
" After several consultations with the g-overnour and judges, touching the 
arrest and confinement of certain known agents and emissaries of Col. Burr, 
in this city and territoiy, whose intrigues and maciiinations were to be ap- 
prehended, it is with their privity and approbation, that I have caused three 
of them to be arrested, viz. Doctor Erick BoUman, Samuel Swartwout, and 
Peter V. O^den, against whom I jdosscss strong facts, and I have recom- 
mended to t!ie gov'ernou^ to have James Alexander, Esq. taken up on the 
grounds of strong suspicion. These persons and all others, who, by their 



AMERICAN SEATl?; PAPERS. IS 

character and deportment may be considered hostile to the interests of the 
Unite<l States, or.dang-erous to this feeble frontier, under the nienacinjj as- 
pect of things irom above, will, if my iniliienie can prevail, be seized on and 
sent by sea to the United States, subject to the disposition of government, 
and accompanied by such information as may justily tiicir confinement, and 
furnish ircluc to the developemcnt of the grounds, progress, and projectors 
of the treasonable enterpri/.e in wiiich they are engaged. 

" Tills letter will acccjmpany Doctor Bollman, wlio is to be this day em- 
barked HI a vessel bound for Charleston, under tlie charge of Lt. Wilson of 
the ai tiller}', wiio has orders to land with his prisoner at Fort Johnson or 
Fort Moultrie, to forward this dispatch by mail, and to wait the orders of 
the executive. Mr. Swariwout will be sent to Baltimore by a vessel which 
will sail some time the ensuing week, in custody of anotiier svibaltern, who 
will be the liearer of strong testimony against him and also Col. Burr, and 
the others will follow imder due precautions, by tlie eaiiiest opportimities 
whiclt may present. 

" I deem it essential to keep these prisoners apart, to prevent the adjust- 
ment of correspondent ariswers or confessions to any examination which 
may ensue, and I hope the measures of tlie executive may be so prompt and 
efficient, as to relieve the officers in charge of them from their trust, before 
the interposition of the friends of the prisoners may eflect their liberation. 

" By this proceedure we may intimidate the confederates, who are un- 
questionably numerous in this as well as the adjacent territory, disconcert 
their arrangements, and possibly destroy their intrigues ; and I hope the 
zeal which directs the measure may be justified and approved ; for whilst 
the glow of patriotism actuates my conduct, and I am willing to offer my- 
self a martyr to the constitution of my country, 1 should indeed be most 
grievously disappointed did I incur its censure. 

" Here, sir, w-e find the key to the western states, and here we must 
form one grand depositary and place of arms — combine to tliis disposition a 
river fiect competent to its occlusion, and post it thirty or forty leagues above 
the Yazou i-iver, and we may repose in security; "for the "discontent and 
sufferings of our insurgent citizens, which nuist immediately ensue, will 
soon open their eyes to the wickedness of their leaders, and work a i-adical 
reformation without bloodshed. This is my plan for resisting an internal 
attack ; for external defence, gun-boats, and bomb-ketches, with floating 
batteries at the mouths of the Missisippi and the passes from Lake Pon- 
chartrain will be necessary." 



Extract of a letter from Gen. James Wilkinson^ dated .Vevj-Orleans, 
December 18, 1806. 

Sir — Since my last of tlie 14th inst. writs of habeas ccrpus have been is- 
sued for the bodies of Bollman, Swartwout, and Ogden, tJie two latter by 
Judge Workman, who is strongly suspected for being concerned with Bmr 
jn his conspiracy, as I have proof this man declared" some time since, that 
" tiie republican, who possessed power, and did not employ it to establisii ' 
a desjKjtism, was a fool." His writ for Ogden was served oii Capt. Shaw of 
the navy, who had him in charge at my request, on bcai-d tlie Etna bomb 
ketcli, and delivered him up, and Mr. Workman disch.u-gcd him without 
giving me a word of information, although he knew he v.':(s confined by my 
order for a treasonable combination with Bih-r, and Mr. Oji-den now struts 
at large. Swartwout I have sent ofi; and shall so report, holding mvself 
ready for coi^seriuenccs. Bollman was required by tl>e supcriour courtj but 
I have got rid of that afT'air also, under the usual liability for damages, in 
wliich . ct.se I sl.;ui look to ou.- country for protection.'" 



14 AMERICAKT STATE PAPERS. 



SECOND MESSAGE. 

Tq the Senate and 

House of Representatives of the United States. 

I RECEIVED from General Wilkinson, on the twenty third in- 
stant his affidavit, charging Samuel Swartwoiit, Peter V. Ogden 
and James Alexander, with the crimes described in the affidavit, a 
copy of which is now communicated to both Houses of Congress. 

It was announced to me at the same time, that Swartwout and 
BoUman, two of the persons apprehended by him, were arrived in 
this city, in custody each of a military officer. I immediately de- 
livered to the attorney of the United States, in this district, the evi- 
dence received against them, with instructions to lay the same be- 
fore the judges, and apply for their process to bring the accused to 
justice, and I put into his hands orders to the officel-s having them 
in custody, to deliver them to the marshal on his application. 

TH : JEFFERSON. 

January 26, 1807. 



I, J.imes Wilkinson, brigadier-general and commander in chief of the 
army of the United States, to warrant the arrest of Dr. Erick Bollman on a 
charge of treason, mispiision of treason, or such other olfence against the 
government and laws of the U.States,as the following facts may legally charge 
him with — on my honour as a soldier, and on tlie holy evangelists of Al- 
mighty God, do declare and swear, that on the 6th day of November last, 
when in command at Natcliitoches, I received by the hands of a Frenchman, 
a stranger to me, a letter from Dr. Erick Bollman, of which the following 
is a correct copy. 

" Ne%u-Orleans, September 27, 1806. 

« Sjr — I have the honour to forward to your excellency the e«c/osec^ to- 

ters, which I was charged to deliver to you by our mutual friend. I shall 

remain for some time at tliis place, and should be glad to learn where and 

when I may have the pleasure of an interview with you. Have tlie goodness 

to infurm me of it, :md please to direct your letter to me, care of , 

or enclose it mider cover to them. I have the honour with gieat respect, 
sir, your excellency's most obedient s(jrvant, 

(Signed) ERICK BOLLMAN." 

" General Wilkinson. 

Covering a conmunication in cypher frotn Col. Aaron Burr, of which the fol- 
lowing is substantially as fair an interpretation as I ha've htrttofore been able to 
tnake, the original (f Hxbich I still hold in my possession: — I (Aaron Burr) 
have obtained funds and have actually commenced the enterprize — detach- 
ments from different points and under different pretences will rendezvous 
on tlie Ohio 1st November — every tb.ing internal and external favom-s views 

—Protection of England is seciu-ed — * T is g-one to Jam.-uca to arrange 

* Truxton. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 15 

with the admiral on that station, and will meet at the Missisippi — England 

Navy of tlie United States are ready to join and final orders are given to 

my triends and followers — it will be an host of choice spirits — Wilkinson 
sh;Jl be second to Burr oiUy — Wilkinson shall dictate the rank and promo- 
tion of his officers — Burr will proceed Westward 1st August — never to re- 
turn — witli him go his daughter — tlie husband will follow in October with a 
corps ot' -worthies — sendfortli — with an intelhgent and confidential friend with 
wJiom Burr may confer. — He shall return immediately with further inter- 
esting details — this is essential to concert and harmony of movement. Send 
a hst of all persons known to Wilkinson west of the mountains, who could 
be useful, with a note delineating the characters. By your messenger send 
me tour or five of tlie commissions of your officers, wliich you can borrow 
under any pretence you pkase — They shall be returned faithfully — Already 
are orders to the contiactor given to foi'ward six months provisions to points 
Wilkinson may name — this shall not be used until the last moment, and 
then under proper injunctions — tlie project is brought to the point so long 
desired — Burr guarantees the result with his life and honour — the lives, the 
honour and ti)rtunes of hundi-eds, the best blood of our country — Burr's plan 
of operations is to move down rapidly from the falls on the 15th of November 
witli tiie iirst 500 or 1000 men in light boats now constructing- for that pur- 
p<ise — to be at Natchez between the 5th and 15th of Decc mber — then to 
meet Wilkinson — then to determine whether it will be expedient in the first 
instance to seize on or pass by Baton Rouge — on receipt of this send Burr 
an answer — draw on Burr for all expenses, &c. The people of the counti'y 
to which we are going ai-e prepared to receive us — their agents now with 
Burr say that if he will protect their religion and will not subject them to a 
foreign power, that in three weeks all will be settled. The Gods invite to 

glory and fortune — it remains to be seen whether we deserve the boon. 

The bearer of this goes express to you — he will hand a formed letter of in- 
troduction to you from Burr, a copy of which is hereunto subjoined — he is a 
man of inviolable honour and perfect discretion — formed to execute rather 
than project — capable of relating facts with fidelity and incapable of relating 
them otherwise. He is thoroughly informed of the plans and intentions of 

, and will disclose to you as far as you enquire and no fai-ther 

he has imbibed a reverence for your chai-acter and may be embarrassed in 
your presence — put him at ease and he will satisfy you. — Doctor Bollmaii 
equally confidential, better informed on the subject and more intelligent will 
hand you this duplicate—" 29th July." 

The day after my arrival at this city, the 26th of Nove"mber last, I receiv- 
ed anotlier letter from the Doctor, of which the following is a correct copy. 

Ncvj -Orleans, 25th Nov. 1806. 
"Sir — Your letter of the 5th inst. has been duly received. Supposing 
*♦ that you will be much engaged this morning I defer waiting on your ex- 
" cellency till you will be pleased to inform me of the time when it will be 
" convenient to you to see me. I remain with gi-eat respect, 
" Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

(Signed) ERICK BOLLMAN." 

His Excellency Gen. Wilkinson, Fauxbourg. 

Muri^r.y, the house betiueen Madame Trevinge and M. Macarty. 

On tlie .30tli of the same month I waited in ])erson on Dr. E. Bollman. 
when he informed me that he had n..t heard fi-oni Col. Eiut since his arrival 
here— that he (said Dr. E. B(jllman) had sent dispatclies to Col. Burr by a 
licutt nant Spence of tlie navy, and tliat he had been advised of Spence's ar- 
j-ivul at Ni-shville, ia the state of Tennessee— And observed that Col. Burr 



i6 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

had proceeded too far to retreat : that he (Col. Burr) had mimerons and 
powerful friends in the United States, wlio stood pledged to support him 
with their fortunes, and that he must succeed. That lie, the said Dr E. 
BoUman, had written to Col. Burr on the subject of provisions, and that he 
expected a supply would be sent from New-York, and iilso from Norfolk, 
where Col. Burr had strong- connexions. I did not see or liear from the 
Doctor again until the 5th inst. when I called on him tlie second time. The 
mail being arrived the day before, I asked him whether he had received 
any intelligence from Col. Burr. He informed me that he had seen a letter 
from Col. Burr of the 30th of October, in which he (Col. Burr) gave assu- 
rances that he should be at Natches with 2000 men on the 20th of Decem- 
ber inst. wliere he should wait until he heard from this place. That he 
would be followed by 4000 more, and that he (Col. Burr) if he had chosen, 
could have raised or got 12,000 as easy as 6,000, but tliat he did not tliink 
that number necessary. — Confiding- fully in this information I became indif- 
ferent about further disguise. I then told the Doctor that I should most 
certainly oppose Col. Burr if he came this way. He replied, they must come 
here for equipments and shipping, and observed that he did not know what 
had passed between Col. Burr and myself, obliqued at a sham defence, and 
waved the subject. 

From the documents in my possession, and the several communications, 
A'erbal as well as written, from the said Doctor Erick Bollman on this sub- 
ject, I feel no hesitation in declaring under the solemn obligation of an oath, 
that he has committed misprision of treason against the government of the 
United States. 

(Signed) JAS. WILKINSON. 

Signed and sworn to this 14th day of December, 1806, before me, one of 
the justices of the peace of this countv. 

(Signed) ' J. CARRICK. 

Philadelphia^ 25 July, 1806. 
Dear Sir, 
Mr. Swartwout, the brother of Col. S. of New-York, being on his way 
down the Mississippi, and presuming he may pass you at some post on the 
river, has requested of me a letter of introduction, which I give with plea- 
sure, as he is a most amiable young man, and highly respectable from his 
character and connesions. I pray you to afford him friendly ofiiccs, which 
his situation may require, and beg you to pardon the trouble which this 
may give you. With entire respect, 

Your friend and obedient servant, A. BURR. 

His Excellency Gen. Wilkinson. 

I instantly resolved to avail myself of the reference made to the 
bearer, and in the course of some days drew from him (the said 
Swartwout) the follov.'ing disclosure. — " That he had been dispatch- 
ed by Col. Burr from Philadelphia, had passed through the states 
of Ohio and Kentucky, and proceeded from Louisville for St. Louis, 
where he expected to" find me, but discovering at Kaskaskiasthat I 
had descended the river, he procured a skiff, hired hands and fol- 
lov/edme down the Mississippi to Fort Adams, and from thence 
set out for Natchitoches, in company with cnptains Sparks and 
Hooke, under the pretence of a disposition to take part in the cam- 
paign against the Spaniards, then depending. That Col. Burr, with 
the support of a powerful association, extending from New-Ycrk to 
New-Orleans, was levj ing an armed body of 7000 men from the 
state of New-York and the western states and territories, with a 
view to cary an expedition against the Mexican provinces, and that 



amehican state papers. )T 

•500 men under Col. Swavtwout, and a Col. or Major Tyler, wei e to 
tlesociid the Alleghany, for whose accommodation light boats had 
bf ea built and were ready." I enqtiired an hat would be their course ; 
he said, " this territory would be revolutionized, where the people 
were ready to join them, and that there would be some seizing, lie 
supposed, at New-Orleans ; that they expected to be ready to em- 
bark about the first of February, and intended to land at Vera Cruz, 
and to march from thence to Mexico." I observed that there were 
several million*) of dollars in the bank of that place ; to whicti lie 
replied, " We know it i\ill well ;" and on my remarking that they 
tercainly did not mean to violate property, he said they " nicvely 
meant to borrow, and would return it ; that they must equip them- 
selves in Kcw-OT'leans ; that they expticted naval protection frcmi 

Great Britain ; that the capt. and the officers of our navy were 

so disgusted with the government that they were ready to joizi ; 
that similar disgusts prevailed throughout the western country, 
where the people were zealous in favour of the enterprize, and th.at 
pilot l^oat built schooners were contracted for along our southern 
coast for tlicir service ; that he had been accompitnicd from the 
falls of Ohio to Kaskaskias, and'fi-om tlience to Fort Adams, by a 
Mr. Ogden, who had proceeded on to New-Orleans with letters 
from Col. Burr to his fi-iend there." Swartwoiit asked me v/hether 
I had heard from Dr. Bollman ; and on my ausv/ering in tlie nega- 
ti\e, he expressed great surprize, and <;bserved, "That the doctor 
and a Mr. Alexander had left Philadelphia before him, with dis- 
patches for me, and that they were to proceed by sea to Kew-Or- 
leans, where he said they nuist have arrived." 

Though determined to deceive him if possible, I could not re- 
frain telling Mr. Swartwout it v/as impossible that I could dishon- 
our my commission ; and I believe I duped him by my admiration 
of the plan, and by observing, " That although I could not join in 
the expedition, the engiigements which the Spaniards had prepar- 
ed for me in my front, u.ight prevent my opposing it." Yet 1 did 
the moment I had decyphered the letter, put it into the hands of 
Col. Cushing, my aojutant and inspector, making the declaration 
that I should oppose the lawless enterprize with my utmost force. 
Mr. Swartwout informed me he was under engagements to meet. 
Col. Burr at Nashville the 20th of November, and requested me to 
write him, which I declined ; and on his leaving Natchitoches 
about the ISthof October, I immediately employed Lieut. T. A. 
Smith to convey the information in substance to the President, 
without the commitment of names ; for from the extraordinarv 
natm-e of the project, and the more extraordinary appeal to me, I 
could but doubt its reality, notwithstandir.g the testimony before 
me, and I did not attach solid belief to Mr. Swartwcut's reports 
respecting their intentio)!s on this ten-itory or.d city, uncil I receiv- 
ed cdnfirmatory advice from St. Louis. 

After my return from the Saljine, I crossed the country to 
Natchez, and on my descent of the Mississippi from that place 1 
found Swaitv/out and Peter V. Ogden at''FoVt Adams ; with the 
latter I held no communication, but was informed bv Swartwout. 
that he, Ogden, had returned so far from NeAv-Orleans, on his 
Tout to Tennessee, but had been so much alarmed b\- certain rc- 

Appcndix, Vol. IV. B 



18 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

ports in circulation that he was afraid to proceed. I enquired whe- 
ther he bore letters with him from New-Orleans, and was inform- 
ed by Swartwout that he did not, but that a Mr. Spence had been 
sent from New-Orleans through the country to Nashville, with 
letters for Col. Burr. 

I reached this city the 25th ultimo, and on the next morning 
James Alexander, Esq. visited me ; he enquii-ed of me aside Avhe- 
ther I had seen doctor BoUman, and on my answering in the nega- 
tive, he asJced me whether I would sufTer him to conduct Bolhnan 
to ine, which I refused. He appeared desirous of communicating 
something, but I felt no inclination to inculpate this yovmg man, and 
he left me. A few days after he paid me a second visit, and seem- 
ed desirous to communicate, which I avoided, until he had risen to 
take leave ; I then raised my finger, and observed, " Take care, 
you are playing a dangerous game ;" he answered, " It will suc- 
ceed." I again observed, " Take care ;" and he replied with a 
strong affirmation, " Burr will be here by the beginning of next 
month." In addition to these corroborating circumstances against 
Alexander, I beg leave to refer to the accom.panying documents, 
A. B. From all which I feel no hesitation in declaring, under a 
solemn obligation of an oath, that I do believe the said Swartwout, 
Alexander, and Ogden, have been parties to, and have been con- 
cerned in the insurrection formed or forming in the states and terri- 
tories on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, against the laws and con- 
stitution of the United States. 

(Signed) JAMES WILKINSON. 

Sworn to, and subscribed before me, this 26th day of Decem- 
ber, in the year of our Lord 1806. 

(signed) GEORGE POLLOCK, 

Justice of the peace, for the county of Orleans. 



DEPOSITIOjY ot WILLIAM EATON-, Esq_. 

l.V THE CIKCUIT COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Early last winter, Col. Aaron Burr, late vice-president of the United 
States, signified to uie, at this place, tliat under the authority of the gene- 
ral government, he was organising a secret expedition against the Spanisii 
provinces on our south-western borders ; which expedition he was to lead, 
and in wliich he was authorised to invite me to take the command of a divi- 
sion. — I had never before been made personally acquainted with Col. 
Burr ; and, having many years been employed in foreign service, I knew 
but little about the estimation this gentleman now held in tlie opinion of 
his co'uitrvmen and Iris government ; the rank and confidence by which he 
had so lately been dlsting^uished, left me no riglit to suspect his patriotism. 
I knew him a soldier. lii case of a war with the Spanish nation, which 
from the tenor of the president's message to both Houses of Congress 
seemed probable, I should have thought it my duty to obey so honourable 
a call of my country : and under that impression, I did engage to embark 
in the expedition. I had frequent interviews with Col. Burr in this city — 
and, for a considerable time, his object seemed to be to instruct me by 
maps, and otlitr information, the feasibility of penetrating te Mexico — al- 
ways can-ying forward the idea that the measure was authorised by goverti- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 19 

ment. At lenglli, some time in February, be beg'an by degrees to unveil 
LimseU'. — He reproached the government with want of cliarattcr, want 
of gratitude, and want of justice. He seemed dcsii-ous of irritating resent- 
ment in my breast by dihiiing on certain injuries he felt I had suttered from 
reflections' Kiade on the floor of the House of Representatives, concerning 
my operations in Barbary, and from tlie delays of government in adjusting my 
claims for disbursemcms on that coast d<u-ing my consular agency at I'luiis ; 
and he would point lonie to an honourable mode of i-nde»nnity. 1 nowbeg-an 
to entertain a suspicion thiit Mr. Burr w;<s projecting an imauthorised mili- 
tary expedilion ; which to me, was enveloped in mystery ; and, desirous to 
draw an explanation from liim, I sufleied him to suppose me resigned to 
his council. He now laid open his project of j-evolutionising the western 
country, separating it from ike union, establishing a monarcliy there, of 
which he was to be the sovereign, New-Orleans to be his capital ; organis- 
ing a force on the waters of the Mississippi, and extending conquest to Mex- 
ico. I suggested a number of impediments to his scheme — such as the re- 
publican habits of the citizens of that country, and their affection towards 
our present administration of government ; the want of funds ; the re- 
sistance he would meet from the regular army of the U. States on those 
frontiers ; and the opposition of Miranda in case he should succeed to re- 
publicanise the Mexicans. 

Mr. Burr found no difficulty in removing those obstacles — he said he had, 
the preceding season, made a tour through that country, and had secured 
the attachment of the the principal citizens of Kentucky, Tennessee and 
Louisiana, to his ])erson and his measures — declared he had inexhaustible 
resources to funds ; assured me the regular army would act with him, and 
would be i-einforced by ten or twelve thousand men from the above-men- 
tioned stales and tei'ritory, land from other parts of the union; said he had 
powerful agents in the Spanish territory — and, as for Miranda, said Mr. 
Burr, we must hang Miranda. He no%v proposed to give me tlie second 
command in his army. I asked him who should have tiie chief command ? 
He said General Wilkinson. I observed it was singular that he sliould count 
on General Wilkinson ; the elevated rank and higli trust he now held as 
commander in chief of our army, and governourof a province, he would hard- 
ly put at hazard for any precarious prospect of aggrandizement. Mr. Burr 
said. General Wilkinson, balanced in the confidence of government, was 
doubtful of retaining much longer the consideration he now enjoyed, and 
was consequently prepared to secure himself a permanency. 

I asked Mr. Burr if he knew General Wilkinson ? He answered yes : 
and echoed the question. I said I knew him well. " What do you know 
of him ?" said Mr. Burr. — I know I replied, that general Wilkinson will 
act as Lieutenants no man in existence. " You are in an error," said Mr. 
Burr — " Wilkinson ivill act as Lieutenant to vie." From the tonor of repeated 
conversations w^ith Mr. Burr, I was induced to believe the plan of separat-< 
ing the union which he had contemplated had been communicated to and 
approved of hy general Wilkinson (though I now suspect it an artful ar- 
gument of seduction) ;md he often expressed a full confidence that the ge- 
neral's influence ; the offer of double pay luid double rations ; the prospect 
of plunder and the ambition of achievement would draw the army into his 
measures. Mr. Burr talked of the establishment of an independent 
government west of the Alleghany as a matter of inherent constitutional 
right of the people : a change which would eventually take place, and for 
the operation of which the present crisis was peculiarly favourable. There 
w.ts, said he, no energy in the government to be dreaded, and the divisions 
of political opinions throughout the union was a circumstance of which we 
should profit. Tliere were very many enterprising men among- us who as- 



iiO AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

pired to sometliing- beyond the dull pursuits of civil life and who would vo- 
lunteer in this enterprize, and the vast territory belong-ing to the United 
States, which offered to adventurers, and the mines of Mexico would bring 
strcngtli to his standard from all quarters — I listened to the exposition of 
col. Burr's views with seeming' acquiescence. Every interview convinced 
me more and more tliat lie had organized a deep-laid plot of treason in the 
west, in tJic accomplishment of which he felt fully confident. Till at lengtli 
I discovered that his ambition was not bounded by the waters of the Missis- 
sippi and Mexico, I)ut t'.iat he meditated overtlirowing the present govern- 
ment of our country. He said, if he could g-ain over the marine corps, and 
secure the naval commanders, Truxton, Preble, Decatur, and others, he 
ni'ould turn congress 7ieci and heels out of doors ; assassinate the Pi-esident ;. 
seize on the treasury and navy, and declare himse'f the protector of an energetick 
goicnmient. 

The lioiiourablc trust of corrupting the marine corps, and of aovmding com- 
modore Pi-cble and capt. Decatur, col. Burr proposed confiding to me. 
fihocked at tliis jjroposition, I dropped t!ie mask, and exclaimed against 
his views. He talked of the degi-aded situation of our country, and the ne- 
cessity of a LIo-M by whicii its energy and its dignity should be restored 
— said, if that blow could be struck hei-e at this time, he was confident of 
the best blood of America. I told col. Burr he deceived liimself in presum- 
ing that lie, or any other man could excite a party in tiiis country who 
v^-.)uld covmtenance him in such a plot of desperation, murder, and treason. 
He replied, that he, perliapa, knew better the dispositions of the influen- 
tial citizens of this covmtry than \ did. I told him one solitary word would 
tlcstroy him. He asked, what word ? I answered, Usurper ! He smiled at 
my hesitation, and quoted snme great examples in his favour. I observed to 
liim, that I had latel}' travelled from one extreme of tlie union to the other ; 
aiid tliough I found a diversity of political opinion among the people they 
appeared united at the most distant as])ect of national danger. That, for 
the section of tlie union to which I belonged, I would vouch, shoidd he suc- 
ceed in the first instance here, he would within six weeks afterward 
have his throat cut by Yankee militia. 

Tiiougii wilii and extravag-ant Mr. Burr's last project, and though 
fi-au.ght with premeditated slaughter, I felt very easy on the subject, be- 
cause its defeat he had deposited in my own hands. I did not feel so se- 
rure conceining tl)at of disjointing the union. But the very interesting and 
embarrassing situation in wiiich his communications ])laced me, left me, I 
confess, at a stand to know how to conduct myself witli propriety. He had 
committed no overt act of aggression against law. — I could draw nothing 
from him in wi-iting ; nor could I learn that he had exposed his plans to 
any person near me by whom my testimony could be supported. He had 
mentioned to me no persons who were jirincipally and decidedly engaged 
vntii liim, except general Wilkinson — a Mr. Alston, wlio I found was his 
son-in-law — and a Mr. Ephraim Kibby, late a captain of rangers in Gen. 
"Wayne's army. 

.Satisfied that Mr. Burr w.^s resolute in pusliing his project of rebellion in 
i])c west of tlie Alleghany,nnd apprehensive tliat it was too vvell andtooexten- 
sively organized to be easily svippressed — thougii I dreaded the weiglitofiiis 
character when laid in the balance against iliy solitary assertion, I brought 
myself to the resolution to endeavour to defeat it by getting him removed from 
r.mong us, or to expose myself to all consequences by a disclosure of his 
intentions. 

Accordingly, I waited on the President of the United States, and after 
some desiiltoiy conversation, in which I aimed to draw his view to the west- 
w.ird, I used'tiie fi-eedom to say to the President I thought Mr. Bu;t should 



AMERICAN STATE VAPKRS 21 

be sent out of the country — and gave for reason, that I believed him danger- 
ous in it. Tiie President asked where he sliould be sent ? I mentioned 
London and Cadiz. The President thought the trust too important, and 
seemed to entertain a doul)t of Mr. Burr's integrity. I intimated that no 
one, perhaps, had stronger grounds to mistru.st Mr. Burr's moral integrity 
than myself; yet, I believed, ambition so much predon/iiated over hiin that, 
when placed on ;ui eminence and put on his honour, respect to himself 
would en.sure Iiis hdelity : — His talents were unquestionable. I perceived the 
9\ibject was disagreeable to the President; and to give it the shoi-test course 
to the point, declared my concern that if Mr. Purr were not in some wav 
disposed of, we sliould, within eighteen months, have an insurrection, if 
not a revolution, on the waters of the Mississippi. The President answer- 
ed, that lie had too much confidence in the information, the integrit}-, and 
the attachment to the imion of the citizens of that country to admit an ap- 
prehension of the kind : 1 am happy tliat events prove this confidence well 
placed. As no interrogatories followed my expression of alai-m, I thought 
silence on tlie subject, at that time and place, 1 ecame me. 

But I detailed about tlie same time, the whole project of Mr. Burr to 
certain members of Congress. They believed Col. Burr capable of any 
thing — and agreed that tiie fellow ought to be hanged; but thoug-ht his 
projects too chimerical ;md liis circumstances too desperate to give the sub- 
ject the merit of serious consideration. The tot:d security of feeling in 
those to whom I had rung the tocsin induced me to suspect my own appre- 
hensions unseasonable, or at le.lst too deeply admitted : and of course, I 
grew indifl(;rent about the subject. 

Mr. Burr's visits to me became less freqiient, and his conversation less 
familiar. He appeared to have abandoned the idea of a general revolution ; 
but seemed determined on that of the Mississippi — and, although I could 
perceive symptoms of distrust ui him towards me, he manifested great so- 
licitude to engage me with him in tlie enterprize. Weary of his importu- 
nity, and at once to convince him of my serious attachments, I gave the fol- 
lowing toast to the publick : — 

" The Umted States — Palsey to the brain that sliould plot to dis- 
meniber, and leprosy to the hand that will not draw to defend our union !" 

I doubt whether the sentiment was better understood by any of my ac- 
quaintance than by Colonel Burr. Our intercourse ended liere — we met 
but seldom afterward. I returned to my farm in Massachusetts, and tliought 
no more of Mr. Burr nor his empire, till sometime late in September or be- 
ginning of October, wlien a letter from Morris Belknap, of Marietta, to 
Timothy E. Danielson, fell into my hands at Brimfield, which satisfied mc 
that Mr. Burr had actually commenced his preparatory operations on the 
Ohio. I now spoke publickly of the fact, ti*ansmitted a copy of the letter 
from Belknap to the department of state, and about tlie same time forwarded 
through the hands of the post-master-general to the President of tlie U.States, 
a statement in substance, of wiiat is here above derailed concerning the Mis- 
sissippi conspiracy ofCol. A.Biu-r — which is said to have been the first formal 
intelligence received by the executive on the subject of the conspirator be- 
Tng in motion. 

1 know not whether my country will allow mc the merit of correctness of 
conduct in this afiair. The novelty of the duty might, perhaps, have em- 
barrassed stronger minds than mine. The uprightness of my intentions, I 
liope, will not be questioned. 

The interviews between col. Burr and myself, from which the foregoing 
.statement has resulted, were chiefly in liiis city, in the months of February 
ar,(l Marcli, h.st vear. 

WiLihington City, Jan. 26. WILLIAM EATON. 

Sworn to in open court this 26th of Jan. ISOr. Wm. Brent, Clerk. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 



DEPOSITIOJy OF JAMES L. DOjYJLDSOJ^. 



In open court personally appears James Lowry Donaldson, who being 
duly sworn, deposeth and saitli that lie was in tlie city of New-Orleans, in 
the Orleans territory, and the environs of said city, from the 15th of Octo- 
ber to the 10th day of December, 1806 — that during the latter part of this 
time he was frequently in the company of General James Wilkinson, and 
visited the General the day after his arrival at New-Orleans. On this oc- 
casion this deponent received in confidence from General Wilkinson infor- 
mation to the following purport — Tliat tlie General had undoubted and in- 
disputalile evidence of a treasonable design formed by Aaron Burr and 
others to dismember the union by a separation of the western states and 
territories from the Atlantic states — that New-Orleans was in iinniecUate 
danger, and that he had concluded a hasty compromise with the Spaniards, 
so as to be able to withdraw his troops instantly to this the immediate ob- 
ject of att;.'-k and great vulnerable point — Tiiat lie had received a letter 
from Burr holding- forth great inducements to him to become a party, of 
which he shewed me the original in cypher, and another written paper 
purpoitiiigtobe a decy])hered copy of the letter. He expressed great in- 
dignation at the plot, and svu-prize that one so well acquainted with him ag 
Bui r should dare to make to him so degrading" a proposal, and declared his 
determination of defeating tlie enterprize, or j)erishing in the attempt. He 
observed in addition that there were many agents of Mr. Burr then In the 
town, who had already been assiduous in their visits, and towards whom he 
was tletermined to act with cautious ambiguity, so as at the same time to 
become possessed of the whole extent of the plan, the persons engaged, 
and the time of its execution, and also to prevent any attempt on his perixjn, 
of which he dechu'ed he had serious a[)]5rehension.s. Of the number of 
these agents he was not aware, but mentioned the names of two, of whom 
he was certain, Messrs. Bollman and Alexander. From time to time, as 
this deponent had interviews with General Wilkinson, he informed this de- 
ponent that he had received additional information respecting the move- 
ments and designs of Burr by means of these agents, of whom he consider- 
ed Bollman as the principal. In the coiu-se of these transactions, this depo- 
nent was employed by General Wilkinson in the copying of certain papers 
and documents, and preparing- cei-tain dispatches for tlie general govern- 
ment, which the General intended to forward by the brig Thetis. Wiiile 
thus employed at the Genei-al's lodg-ings, this deponent has remarked, upon 
two diftierent occasions, a person knock for admittance at a door with a win- 
dow in it, opposite the table where this deponent was sitting, who, this de- 
ponent was informed by General 'Wilkinson, was Dr. Bollman. Upon these 
occasions the General had suddenly risen from his seat, and accompanied 
this person in a nimibcr of turns up and down a balcony in the front of the 
house, apparently engaged in deep conversation. Upon the latter of these 
occasions the General on his return into the chamber siiid to this deponent, 
*' that is Dr. Bollman, his infatuation is truly extraordinai-y, he persists in 
his belief that I am with Burr, and has this moment shewn me a letter from 
the latter, in which he says that he is to be at Natchez on tlie 20th Decem- 
ber with two thousand men, that 4000 will follow in the course of a few days, 
and that he could with the same ease, have procured double that number." 
Genend Wilkinson then observed that he had obtained all the information 
he wanted, and that the afiiair would not be kept much longer a secret from 
♦he publick. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 25 

When this deponent left the city of New-Orleans, the inhabitants of that 
city were in a state of great alarm, and apprehended a serious attack from 
Mr. Burr ;uid his confederates : this deponent understood that mercantile bu- 
siness was much embarrassed and great fears were enteilained of consider- 
able commercial failures in consequence of the embargo which had been 
impased — that General Wilkinson was taking strong measures of defence 
and that four hundred persons were then actually engaged in the fortifica- 
tions of the city. 

And luilher this deponent saith not. 

JAMES L. DONALDSON. 
Sworn to in open court 
January 26, 1807. 

Wm. brent. Clerk. 

DEPOSITIOJsr OF Lr. JV. WILSOjY. 

I left New-Orleans on my way to this city on the 15th of December last ; 
at that time, and for some time preceding, the strongest apprehensions and 
behef universally prevailed among the inhabitants of tliat citv, that Aaron 
Burr and his confederates had prepared an armed force, and were advanc- 
ing to attack and plunder the city ; in consequence of which the greatest 
alarms prevailed, a general stagnation of business, and the danger was cre- 
dited there as a matter of, publick notoriety : — That brigacUer geiieral Wilkin- 
son, with the army of the U. S. was at New-Orleans, occupied in the most 
active military preparations for the defence of the place ; repairing thefoi-ts, 
mounting cannon, collecting ammunition, &c. all under the firm persuasion 
and belief that such an attack was meditated, and about very speedily to 
take place by the said Burr and his confederates ; this deponent knows that 
the general was decidedly of opinion, from the most satisfactory informa- 
tion, that the said Burr and his confederates were advancing with an armed 
force against the place — and further this deponent saith not. 

Signed, Wm. WILSON. 

Sworn to in open court this 
27th day of Jan. 1807. 

Wm. BRENT, Clerk. 



PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 

To the Senate and House of Representatives 
if the United States. 
I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter from Cowles 
Meade, secretary of the Mississippi territory, to the secretary cf war, by 
which it will be seen that Mr. Burr had reached that neiglibourhood on the 
13th of January. TH : JEFFERSON. 

February 10, 1807. 

Extract of a letter from Coviles Meade, secretary and actiTig governour of the 
Mississippi territory, to the department of luar, dated 

SiK, Washington, M. T. January 13, 1807. 

I have just time by the mail to inform you that I received this morning 
a letter from col. Burr, at Bayou Pierre, avowing the innocence of his 
views and the fallacy of certain rumours against his patriotism. His object 
is agricvilture, and his boats are the vehicles of emigration. However, sc- 



£4 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

veral niiiitary corps were ordered to be on the alert, and a])prehend him and 
all suspicious persons on the day before the reception of this letter : these 
orders may possibly bring; him into my possession. In his letter he hints at 
resistance to any attempt to coerce him, and deprecates a civil war. These 
hints will have no influence on my conduct. He will be apprehended, if 
possible, at the hazard of the lives of our militia, and the honour of the ex- 
ecutive. We are all bustle and activity. I .hope in a day or two to give 
you a better account of this troublesome man. 

A boat passed Natchez last niglit ; was hailed and pursued by tlie guard ; 
they fired two guns at the pursuers, and made their escape, being better 
manned. 

Tlie citizens of this country arc republicans and patriots, and on their ex- 
ertions I have every reliance. 



Extract of a letter from. Coi.\ile-i Meade, secretary and acting governour of th6. 
Mississippi territory, to the department of ixar, dated 

Sir, Washington, M.T. Jan. 19, 1807. 

" In obedience to your instructions by express of 20th of December last, 
I immediately, after prorog-iiing the legislature, proceeded to put the teini- 
tory in a state of prep:U'ation for tlie arrestation of the suspicious persons 
and boats, which were contemplated therein ; my militia were collecting v.t 
particular points on the river, when I received a letter from col. Burr, who had 
landed at Bayou Pierre, with 9 boats and about 100 men. This letter went to an 
avowal of his innocence of tlie charges, wliich rumour and publick apprehen- 
sion had announced against him, and solicited me to appease the fears whicli 
his approach had begotten ; at the same time he guarded me against the 
horri)nrs of a civil war, and the evils residting from such a state of things ; 
this seeming tln-e.at induced me to adopt a dliicrent mode of conduct, from 
what the colonel might have expected ; and instead of adopting his pacifiqk ad- 
monition, I ordered a very large portion of the militia of the territory to 
rendezvous at certain points and wait furtiier orders. With the prompti- 
tude of Spai-tans, our fellow citizens shouldered their firelocks, and in 
twenty-four ho\irs I had the honour to review 375 men at Natchez, prepared 
to defend their country. They were ordered, under the command of col, 
Claiborn, to a point on the river about 21 miles above the city, there to re- 
main to guard the river, and intercept, for inspection, :dl boats that might 
descend the river. On the 16th, I dispatched two of my aids to col. Burr, 
who had tendered his respect to the civil authority ; these gentlemen en- 
gaged on my part to give the colonel an interview in the neighbourhood of 
tiie detachment stationed at the mouth of Cole's creek. Conformably 
thereto I met tlie colonel on the 17th, and after a lengthy interview, he offered 
to surrender himself to the civil authority of the territory, and to sufiei* 
his boats to be searched. On the 18th, col. BiU'r, a.ccompanied by my aids, 
majors Shields \\v\ Poindexter, rode down to the place, and was committed 
to the highest tribunal of the civil authority, where he now remains for trialj. 

Four gentlemen of unquestionable respectability, with a detachment of 
30 men, are now in the act of making the search of the boats, and to-mor- 
row I expect their report. 

Thus sir, tliis mighty alarm with all its exaggerations, has eventuated in 
nine boats and one hundred men, and the major part of these are boys, or 
young men just from school. Many of their depositions have been taken be- 
fore judge Rodney, but they bespeak ignorance of the views or designs of 
the colonel. I believe them really ignorant and deluded. I believe that they 
are the dupes of stratagem, if the asse\erations of generals Eaton and 
Wilkinson ai-e to be accredited." 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. xo 

AN ACCOUNT OF A VOYAGE 
Uji the MiasissipfU river, from St. Louis to its source ; made 
under the. orders of the War Department , by Lieut. Pike, of 
the United States army, in the years 1805 and 1806. Com- 
p'ded from Mr. Pike's journal. 

ON the 9th of August, 1805, the exploring party, consisting of lieut. Pike, 
one Serjeant, two corporals and seventeen privates, left their encampment 
near St. Louis in a keel boat, seventy feet long, provisioned for four months ; 
in order to make a survey of the river Mississippi to its source- 

The Mississippi river makes a remarkable bend immediately above the 
moutli of the Missoui-i : and, where it receives the waters of the Illinois, 
that river might be mistaken for a branch or part of the principal stream. 
The land on the east side appears hilly, rocky and barren ; the opposite side 
is low and flat, over which the Sioux poi'tage passes between the Mississip- 
pi and tlie Missouri rivers. Near the mouth of the Illinois river is the big 
cave ; above it the river turns to the southward in order to pass round 
some rocky hills, or a bluff, one hundi-cd feet in height, beyond which it 
has a north westei-ly direction to the mouth of Buffaloe, or Boeuf river, run- 
ning in from the west. Five miles fai-ther, on the eastern side, is a beariitiful 
cedar cliff; above which, the river is nearly two miles in widtli. Some isl- 
ands, which occur at this place, having their lower ends, nearly in a line, 
received from the jjarty tlie appellation of the Four Brothers. The first hills 
which appear on the west side, are some distance below Salt river ; the 
land on that side, from Boeuf river changes its quality from low and rich, 
with cotton wood growing thereon, to a light soiJ, as it approaches the hills. 
On the other side a handsome rocky bluff had been passed, and high lands 
ate observable back from the river. 

Salt river is a considerable stream, and in high water is navigable for 
boats, at least 200 miles above its mouth. 

About 150 miles from the Missouri, is the house of a French settler, si- 
tuated on the west side of the river, opposite to Hurricane island. His cat- 
tle appeared in fine order, but his cornfields were badly cultivated. A mile 
above this house there is a beautiful hill, level on the top, with an easy as- 
cent on each side, and a fountain of fine w.ater. Five mile* from the Hurri- 
cane settlement, Jauflione creek falls in from the west ; and about twenty 
miles farther, two rivers on the same side ; the northernmost of which is 
the Wyaconda, one himdred yards in width. The Mississippi is here a mile 
and a half wide. Several islands present themselves immediately above this 
place. Seventy-five miles above the Frenchman's, and two hundred and 
thirty -two from the Missouri, the riviere des Moines comes in from the 
north west. The width of the Mississippi is here thi-ee-fomths of a mile. 

Immediately above tlie confluence of the riviere des Moines with the 
Mississippi, the fiills or rapids of that name commence. These rapids ex- 
tend eleven miles up the river, are formed by successive ledges, or shoals, 
which cross its bed. Tlie fii-st fall is the most diftlcult to ascend : the chan- 
nel which is a bad one, is on the east side at the two first falls, after which, 
it crosses to the west, and continues near that shore, to the Sac village. 
Here the United States have an agent (Mi-. William Ewing) appointed to 
instruct this nation in agriculture. The country on both sides of the river 
at these rapids is hilly, but the soil i.<; rich This establishjnent is in latitude 
oO deg. 32 min. north. 

Vol. IV. Appeadix. D 



0,6 ASffi&ICAN STATE PAPfcR3. 

Thirtv-fi\'e miles above the establishment at the Sac village, a very huiid- 
some site for a g^ai-hsoii presents itself on the west bank of the river. Th& 
channel passes close under the hill, vvrhich is about sixty feet in perpendicu- 
lar height ; the top of the hill is level for about four hundred yards ; and, in 
the rear, tliere is a prairie of ei^-ht or ten acres well adapted for gai'dens. 
This hill commands an extensive prospect, over a larg-e prairie on the east 
side of the river, o\\ which is scattered a few small graves of trees. At the foot 
of the hill, fi'om a l.mestone rock, issues a spring which would aiibrd an am- 
ple supply of water to a regiment of men. The landing is bold and safe ; 
and a road for a team to ascend the hill, may be easily iTiade at the south end. 
This hill continues about two miles ; it covered with black and white oak, 
and gives rise to live springs in that distance. 

On the morning of the 27th, the party reached the mouth of Rock 
river, ninety-eight miles above the site mentioned as proper for a military 
post. In this chstance tiiey passed a l:irg-e pr;urie, called the half way to the 
prairie des Chiens, and several sivud banks, on the east : the Jowa village 
and creek is on the opposite side. Islands occur very frequently in the river 
along its vAolc course. The country on each side is prairie or covered 
wita timber, altei-nately. Near ti.e mouth <jf Rock river, in a large prairie 
on the east side, stands the largest village of Sac Indians, just above the 
Rock river, the rapids of that name commence ; formed by a series of rocks 
which in some places cross the river from shore to shore. These rapids ex- 
tend about eighteen miles along the river : they afford more water than the 
rapids of la riviere des Moines, but are more rapid and difficult to pass, 
A few m.iles up the river than tlie rapids, the first village of the Reynai'ds is 
situated on its west bank. 

The lead mines which belong to Mvonsieur Dubuque, are on the west side 
of the Mississippi, about one hundred and twenty miles above the first vil- 
iage of tlie Foxes. The dwelling house of the proprietor is near the Missis- 
fii )pi, but the mines are about six miles from it, in a south west direction. 
Indisposition prevented Mi*. PiJce from visiting these mines, as he had pro- 
posed. 

Near tlie mouth of the Turkey river, on wliich anotlier village of the 
Fox Indians is situated, tlie exploring- parly of the United States met a war 
party of Indians consisting of Sacs, Rejniards, and Fuants, returning. They 
appeared anxious to avoid the Americans : indeed great pains seem to have 
ho.cn. taken to impress on tlie minds of all the Indians in tliis quartei', that 
we are a vindictive, ferocious raid warlike people. Altliough these impres- 
sions seem to have been made with evil intentions towards us, they will 
have a contrary effect when the Indians find our conduct towards them to be 
magnanimous and just : reverence will then be joined witiifear, in estimat- 
ing the American character. These Indians stated, that they had been as 
high as lake Pepin, witliout effecting any thing. 

The mouti\ oi the Ouiconsin river, which enters the Mississippi from the 
east, is in latitude 43 deg. 44 min. 8 sec. N. In the fork made by these ri- 
%"t'rs, and above the Ouiconsin, is the prairie des Chiens, backed by a high 
ridge of hills'. Gayard and Yellow rivers enter tlie Mississippi on the west 
side opposite to tliis prairie. 

At the villag'e of the prairie des Gliiens, the exploring party were receiv- 
ed '.'itli attention by captain Fisher and Mr. Frazer. ./Accompanied by judge 
risl.er, Mr. Frazer and Mr. Wood, lieut- Pike ascended the hill on the 
- - - - side of the Mississippi, and made choice of an eligible site for a fort : 
it v7as level on tlie top, had a spring in the reiU", and commanded a view of 
the surrounding country. He designated the spot by m:iiking fom* trees 
with tiie lettsrs A, B, C, and D, and squ:u-ed tlie sides of one in the center. 
On the day following (the 6th of September), he held a council with a sm.all 
number of the Pu.ant'^,. v-id a, chief of the lower band of tlie Sioux visited 



AMERICAN STATE PAPEHS. ^T 

4 

and laid out the position of a lull called the Petit Gi'is, near the Oulconsin, 
and three miles above its moutli. At the villag-e of tlie pr.V;ric de Chiens, 
the}- cliaug-ed their lai'ge boat for others better adapted to the prosecution of 
their voyage. The paily here received an addition to tlieir number of two 
interpreters ; one of vrhich was to go as far as the f^ils of St. AnUionj-, and 
paid by Mr. Frazer j the other was engaged for tiie whole distance. Mr. 
J'razer, who was going on a trading expedition, to .water v.'itli some of the 
bands of Sioux, also embarked with them. 

Wliile encamped about five miles below the river Jowa, on the lOtli of Sep- 
tember, Le FeuiUe, a chief of the Sioux, ( and the s;ime they had met at 
the village of tlie prairie des Chiens) who reside on this river, sent six ot 
his young men to inform Mr. Pike "that he had waited three days -with 
meat, &c. but tliat.last night his poeple h.ad began to diink : tliat, on the 
next day, he would meet him with his people." Mr. Frazer and one of the 
interpretei-s returned with an ansv.'cr to the Indians, — ' that if the v/eather 
permitted the party must pass on, as the season was far advanced.' 

Mr. Frazer on his return stated, that the chief acquiesced in the reason 
for proceeding, but he had prepared a pipe (instead of a letter) to pres.ent to 
Mr. Pike, that he might shew it to all the other bands of the Sioux abovCj 
with a message to inform them of his being a chief of his new father ; and 
tliat he wished !iim to be treated with friendship and respect. Wiicn the 
party arrived opposite to tlie lodges, the Indians we're paraded on the bunk 
with their guns : they fired a salute, with what might be termed three 
rouncb of ball : it was returned from the boats. This mode of saluting' 
might have been less agreeable to others than to soldiers, as tlie Inth^ns had 
been drinking, and seemed desirous of shewing how near to the boats they 
could shoot without injuring them. Mr. Pike -vsi^'it :ishorc armed with pis- 
tols, ai\d liis sword, in order to accompany the chief; but, as a m:u-k of con- 
fidence in the Indians, he caused such of his party as accompanied him to 
leave their arms behind, where centinels were placed to guard tlie boats. 
At the lodg-e of the chief, he found a clean mat and pillov\'' to sit upon ; the 
-pipe was laid before him on crutches, while the chief placed himself on tlie 
right hand, and the interpreter witiiMr. Frazer on the left. After smoking, 
the chief addressed Mr. Pike nearly as follows : " Notwitlistunding I saw 
you at the prairie, I am happy to take }'ou by the hand among my own people, 
and let my young men see tj;e respect due to their 7iew father. When at 
Saint Louis in the spring, my father told me, if I looked down the river I 
should see one of his young warriors coming up. I now find it true ; and 
am happy to see one wlio knov/s that the Great Spirit is the Father of all, — 
both the white and the redpeojjlc : If one die, the otlier caiuiot live.lpng ! 
I have never been at war with our new father ; and liope always to preserre 
the same good understanding with him tliat now exists. I now preccnt you 
with apipc, to shew to the upper bands, in token of our good understanding, 
that tliey may see my woi-k, arid imitate my conduct to you. 

••■ I went to St. Louis on a slnunehil visit : — to carry a mui'derer. You gave 
the man his life : I am thankful for it. — I have provided something for you 
to eat ; but, perhaps you cannot eat it : if so, give it to your ycung jnen." 

To this speech Mr. Pike replied, " that idtiiough at the prairie he had 
told tile chief his business up the Mississippi, he would again relate it.*^ 
He then stated the objects to which his attention was directed, with i-egard 
to the Indians, who had by the cession of Louisiana by Spain, come in. Jer 
the care of the United States ; tlie different posts proposed to be eritablislK-d 
for supplying tliem v/lth necessaries, where the agents of the government 
miglit hear and attend to tlieir wants, and endeavour to make jicac^e between 
the Sioux and the S.auteurs. And, tliat it was probable, on his retiu-n, Iv? 
thould have sojxie of the S^utcurs with him, and would also tuke suma of 



2« AMERICAN STATE PAPERS, 

their chiefs to Saint Louis, where they might settle the differences existing' 
between their nations, and put an end to their long and bloody wars. He 
accepted the pipe with pleasure, as the gift of a great man* and a brother : 
that it should be as he wished. 

Mr. Pike then partook of the dinner which was provided for him, consist, 
ing of wild rye and venison, and sent four large bowls of it to the men who 
accompanied him. After dinner he went to see one of their dances. It was 
a curious performance. The men and women danced indiscriminately. 
They were all dressed in their gayest manner ; each of them holding a 
small skin of some kind in their hands. They frequently ran up to, pointed 
their skin, and puffed with their breath, or blew at each other. The per- 
son thus blown on, whether man or woman, would instantly Ml, and appear 
almost lifeless, or in great agony, — would recover slovvlj^ rise, and again 
join in the dance. This is called their great medicine ; or, as Mr. Pike 
construes the word, — tlie dance of religion. The bystanders actually be- 
lieve, that sometliing is puffed or blown into each other's body, wliich pro- 
duces the falling and other effects wliich take place. All tlie Indians are 
not of the initiated. They must first make presents of forty or fifty dollars 
value to the society, and give a feast when they are admitted with great ce- 
remony. Mr. Frazer said he was once in a lodge with some young men, 
when one of these dancers entered : they immediately threw their blankets 
over him, and forced him out. On his laughing at them, the young Indians 
called him a fool, and said he did not know what the dancer could blow 
into his body ! 

On returning-to the boat, Mr. Pike sent for the chief, and presented him 
with two carrots of tobacco, four knives, half a pound of vermillion, and a 
quart of salt. Mr. Frazer having asked permission to present them some 
rum, it was agi'eed to, and a keg of eight gallons was made up between 
them. He informed the chief, that he dared not give it without the per- 
mission of Mr. Pike. The chief then thanked Mr. Pike for his presents, 
and said " they must come free, as he did not ask for them :" to which the 
latter replied, that, " to those who did not ask for any thing he gave freely, 
but to those who asked for much, he gave only a little, or none." 

During the time which Mr. Pike was at the Indian camp he had soldiers 
placed to keep the crowd from his boats : — a duty they discharged with 
vigilance, di-iving back the women, childi'en and men, whenever they ap- 
proached. When learaig these Indians, their wari'iors said, tiiat, as Mr. 
Pike had shaken hands with tlieir chief, they must, with his soldiers ; — 
a request he willingly complied with. 

The party embarked about three o'clock, and ascended the river about 
three miles that evening ; when tliey were overtaken by Mr. Frazer, who 
had tari'ied a little longer at the village with his perogues. 

This part of the river is about two miles wide, and full of islands : it 
shews hills, or prairie knobs on both sides. Opposite to Root river they 
passed the prairie la Crosse, (so called ft-om a game at ball played frequent- 
ly upon it by the Sioux Indians.) This is a handsome prairie, and has a 
small squai'e hiU upon it, similar to those mentioned by Carver. Its rear is 
bounded by hills, in the same manner as the prairie des Chiens. On this 
prairie there are holes dug by the Sioux -when in expectation of an attack ; 
in which they first put their women and children, and afterwards crawl 
themselves. These holes ai-e generally round, and about ten feet in diameter ; 
but some are half moons, and quite a breast work. The latter are the chief's 
work, and the principal redaubls. The manner of constructing them is this : 
the moment tliey apprehend, or discover an enemy, they commence digging 
V^ith their knives, tomahawks, and a wooden ladle ; and;, in an incredible 

* He is chief of four bandSf 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 2$ 

short space of time, will make a hole sufficiently deep to secure themselves 
and tUmily from tlie biUls or arrows of the enemy. Tlic Indians have no idea 
of taking' these subteraneous redoubts by storm, as many men might be lost 
in tlie attack, which, evei\ if successful, would be considered as an impru- 
dent act. 

On the 13th of September the party passed the mouth of Black river, en- 
tering- the Mississippi from the east. It is of considerable size, and Indian 
traders have wintei-cd 120 miles up it. A little distance above, and where 
the river of the mountain enters, there is a hill in the Mississippi, which the 
French term " the mount;iJn which soaks in the river." Here Ihey met the 
remainder of tlie war party of the Sacs and Reynards ret'orning' from their 
expedition ng-ajnst the Sauleurs. The interpreter enquired wis at number of 
scalps they baa taken : their reply was, none. Passing- the mountain ii\ the 
river, the party stopped on the west side, at the prairie L'Aile, when Mr. 
Pike, Mr. Frazer and Mr. Sparks, went on shore to hunt. Crossing a dry 
flat prairie tlicy ascended the hills, from which the prospect was very beau- 
tiful. On the right was the mountains passed in the morning, and the prai- 
rie in the rear, also the mountains of the prairie la Crosse, appearing like 
distant clouds. On the left, and under their feet was tlie valley through 
which the Mississippi flows between two barren hills, as far as the eye can 
distinguish. Tiie river is divided into numerous channels by beautiful 
islands. After passing a ^•ery thick bottom, fording and swimming three 
branches of the river, and crossing several morasses, they readied the 
boats. SigJis of elk were frequent, but they were not fortunate enough to 
meet with any, although those in the boats had seen three. Tiie next day 
they passed the river Embaras, and L'Eau Clair which enter on the west side, 
and hi the evening stopped opposite to Buffaloe river, rvmning in from the 
north east. The first of these rivers is navigable 135 miles, and the last, at. 
tlie head of which tlie Chipeways reside, is navigable for perogues, for 45 
or 50 leagues. 

At noon, on the 16th of September they reached the grand encampment, 
below Lake Pepin : and in the cviining, passed the Sautiaux river, which 
flows in from the east at the entrance of the lake. They continued to sail 
in the evening, with the intention of crossing the lake. The interpreter 
(Rosseau) said he had passed this lake twenty times, but never in the day 
time ; alleging as a reason, that the wind frequently rose and detained 
them in the day time on the lake. It is more probable, however, that the 
true reason wh)- the traders generally sail through it in the night is, their 
fear of the Sauteurs, as they have made several war strokes at the mouth of 
this river, without distinguishing between tlie Sioux and their traders. 

The exploring party entered the lake with music playing ; but the sky 
soon clouded, and, from the agitation of the water, they had to seek a har- 
bour for the night on the east side. The next morning- they were assailed 
by a ti-emendous storm : the perpendicidar lightning seemed to roll in ball.s 
of fire down the steep hills which border the lake, and it required great ex- 
tions to weather the point de Sable. Here thej' found a Mr. Cameron, with 
one wooden and three bai-k canoes, who had sailed fi'om the prairie on the 
fifth. His canoes were unladen, and turned vip for tlie habitations of the 
men. His party exhibited all the indifference of Indian traders. Here they 
were shewn a point of rocks from which a Sioux woman precipitated her- 
self, and was dashed to pieces on the stones below. Her fii-iends had refus- 
ed her the husband of her choice, and intended to marry her to one whom 
she despised. She sung her death song, ascended the hill, and, before her 
friends came up with her, took the lover's leap ; and ended her distress and 
life tegether. At the m.outh of Canoe rivei", they met with a band of Sioux, 
under the commraid of tl:e Redixing, the second cbJef of ^he nation. He madfc 



30 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

a speech, and presented Mr. Pike with a pipe, poucli, nndbufFaloe skin. 
They encamped opposite to the Indians, on an island in the river, the chief 
having promised to accompany them to the river St. Peter. He appeared to 
be a sensible man ; saluted the party, and received a small present. 

They reached tl.e St. Croix river, at noon on the 19th, and in the evening 
encamped on a prau-ie on tlie east side of the river, where stands a large 
painted stone. On the morning of the 21st, they arrived at the Sioux vil- 
lage, situated at tiie head of an island and just below a ledge of rocks. It 
was unpeopled, the Indians being absent. Two miles higher, they saw 
three bears cross the i-iver. Here was another camp of Sioux, consisting 
of four lodges ; they saw but one man, named the Black Soldier. The ga- 
rullty of the women was astonishing, since at all tlae other camps they had 
been silent ; b.ere they flocked round the strangers, all talking together, 
which could only be accounted for by the absence of the men. 

Three miles below the mouth of St. Peter's river, they passed the en- 
campment of Mr. Ferrebault, who had broken his perogue. The Mississippi 
was so nai-row in this day's course, that they crossed it in a batteaux with 
forty strokes of the oars. The water of the Mississippi, above lake Pepin, ap^ 
pears red, and where deep, nearly as black as ink. The water flowing- in 
from the St. Peters, and St. Croix rivers, give it a blue appeai-ance for a 
considerable chstance below their confluence. 

Obseixuig a wiiite flag on shore, they landed and found it to be of white 
silk : it was sa.^p.;nde(i over a scaflfold, on which lay four dead bodies : 
%wo were enclosed .vi boai-ds, and two in bark. They were wrapped up in 
blankets wliich appeared yet new. They were the bodies of Sioux women, 
a child of pne of th.m, and some other relative. Some of them had died 
on the St. Peter'Sj others on the St. Croix, but were brought and deposited on 
this scaffold together. It -s the mode in which the Sioux bury those of their 
people who cUe a natural death : but those who are killed, are suffered to 
lie unl)uricd. As a corroboration of this information Mr. Pike relates, that 
on the hills below the St. Croix he found the bones of a man which he suppos- 
ed had been killed on the spot 

Before the party reached the mouth of St. Peter's ri-^-er, they were over- 
taken by Mr. Frazer and his perogues, who had been left behind at tins head 
of lake Pepin wltli Mr. Cameron. A short time afterwai'ds, the Petit Cor- 
bcau, at the head of his band, arrived with about 150 warriors. They lio- 
nored Mr. Pike with a salute, in the Indian manner, witli ball ! after which 
it was agreed that a council should be held on the day follov.^ing. Messrs. 
Pike and Frazer took a bai-k canoe, and went up St. Peter's river, to tlie In- 
dian village, to see Mr. Caratron : he engaged to be at the council the next 
dav. The current of St. Peter's river is very gentle. 

The Sioux had marched on a war excursion, but being informed, by ex- 
press, of the arrival of the United States party, they returned by land. 
When at the viUage they were hos])ltably received, and bawled and halloo- 
ed after, to enter every lodge to cat. On their return, tliey found their men 
and the Indians peaceably encamped. 

The council w:is held on the 23d, under a bower or shed, formed of the 
B.'tils of the boats, on the beach, by the orders of Mr. Pike. Into it, only 
his gentlemen, (the tri.ders) and the chiefs entered. He addi-essed theic 
in a speech of considerable Length ; the principal subject of which was, the 
desire of obtaining from them a grant of lands at this place (the falls of St. 
Anthony,) and at St. Croix ; and, the making peace between tliem and the 
Chipew-ays. He was rephed to by the Fils de Penichon, Le Petit Corbeau, 
and L'Orignal leve. They gave the land recpiired, 100,000 acres, and pro- 
mised a safe passport for him, and any chiefs he might bring down ; but 
i.:aoke doubtfully respecting the peace. Mr, Pike tlien gave tliem presents 



AMERICAN STATE PAPEIIS. Si 

td tlie vaVae of two hundred dollars. After the council ^va3 over, he per^ 
mitted the traders to present them with sortie liquor ; which, with what he 
furnished, made about sixty gallons. In an hour afterwards, they were all 
ombarked for their respecti\e villag-es. The cluefs in the council were Le 
Petit Corbeau,— he signed the grant ; Lc Fils de Penichon — he also signed ; 
Le Grand Partisan, L' Origaal lev^, Le Bucasse, and Le Bocuf que Marclie.^ 
It was somewhat difficult to obtain their signatures to the grant, as they con- 
ceived their word of honor sxillicient, Mr. Pike having to represent to them, 
that it was not on their account, but his, that the sigTiing was required. 

An accident happened here which, for a short time, wi.s likely to disturb 
their hai-mony. I'he morning after the council was held, Mr. Pike missed 
his nag ; wliich had either been stolen, or had fallen overboard. He sent for 
L' Origual lcv<., and in his presence punished the guard for his negligence, 
and sent a party three miles down the river in search of the flag, to shew 
his anger at the loss. In tlie night, however, he was awakened by Le Petit 
Corbeau, who had come from his village to see if any accident had befallen 
the party, aa the flag had been found floating three miles below their village (15 
miles from St. Peters) having- concluded from this circumstance, that some 
aft'ray had taken place, in which the flag bad been thrown over boai'd. Al- 
thoug-h the loss of the Hag had been considered an unfortunate circumstance. 
it proved the means of preventing an efi'usion of blood. A chief, called 
the Outarde Blanche, v.'ho had got his lip cut ofl^, came to the Petit Corbeau 
in his village, and told liim " liis face was his looking- glass ; it was spoiled, 
and he was determined on revenge." Accordingly both pai-ties were charg- 
ing their guns, when the lost flag of the United States appeared in the 
midst of tlicm. They were all astonished to see it there, with tJie staff 
broken. 

Petit Corbeau spoke to this effect. " A thing so sacred had not been tak- 
en from the boat without violence. It would" be proper for them to hush 
their pi-ivate animosities until ibey had revenged the cause of their eldest ' 
brother. He would immediately" go up to St. Peter's to know what dog-3 
had done the thing-, and take steps to get satisfaction from those who had 
done it." They all listened to this reasoning ; immediately put the flag to 
dry, and embarked for the camp of tlic United States party. Mr. Pike gave 
him five yards of blue Stroud, three yards of calico, a handkerchief, a car- 
rot of tobacco, and a knife, in order to have the peace made up with the 
Outarde Blanche. He promised to send the flag to the falls, and make up 
the matter with his antag(;nist. 

Whilst detained by the loss of his flag, Mr. Pike sent a flag and two 
carrots of tobacco, by Mr. Cameron, to ' tlie 'Sioux, on the head of the St. 
Peter's ; made a draft of the place, and, dispatched the boat he had obtain- 
ed from Mr. Fisher at the village of the prairie des Ciiiens, to the village of ' 
the Saint Peters, to be exchanged for a barge with Mr. Duncan. The boat 
thus obtained, was a fine Hght vessel, eight men being able to carry her. 

After mucli labour and fatigue in getti}ig the boat through the rapids, they 
reached tlie foot of tlie falls of Saint Anthony on the evening of the 26th, 
and began to carry their loading over the portage, to where Mr. Pike had 
pitched his tent above the shoot. The rapids below the shoot ntay properly 
be called a continuation uf the falls of Saint Anthony : they deserve the ap- 
pellation of falls equally with those of the Delaware and Schuylkill. The 
lost flag was brought to them .it this place b} two young Indians. 

While the men were at work transjjorting the barge over the portage, and 
dirce-fourths of a mile distant from the camp where they had left their 
arms, seven Indians, painted black, appeared on the height neat them. 
They pi-oved to be a pai*t of the Sioux war party, wlio were too obstinate to 
return when the others c:mie in. They were better armed than the Indians 



32 AAIERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

g-enerally are : having guns, bows, arrows, war-clubs and spears, and some 
of tliem pistols. As they made tjieir appearance when the men of the paj"- 
ty were taking a refreshing dram, Mr. Pike handed some to the Indian. 
The first emptied the cup, which was presented to him, v/hich proved a 
caution as to the quantity to be given to the others. The interpreter was 
sent with them to tlie camp, as Mr. Pike wished to purchase one of their 
war-chibs made of elk's horn, and decorated with inlaid work ; — also a set 
of their bows and arrows. But the liquor beginning to operate, the Indian 
to wiiom they belonged, came back to tlie party for Mr. Pike. On his re- 
fusing to go uritil tiie boat was got over the portage, the Indian was proba- 
bly ojfended, as he borrowed a canoe and crossed the river. After getting 
their boat neai-ly to the top of the hill, the props gave wav, and slie slid 
down to the bottom, but without injuring any persoii. 

The day follov/ing, the large boat was got over the portage ; after which, 
the men gave a very decisive proof of their fatigue, by throwing themselves 
down to sleep, instead of getting supper. Six of the men out oi twenty- 
two, were at this time sick. 

The proper time for performing the voyage up the Mississippi appeal's to 
be, — to leave the Illinois as soon as the ice breaks up ; but, if deferred e\en 
to June, it may be performed with great certainty ; for then the water in 
Vie river would be sufficiently high. 

If it is ever possible to pass these falls in high water, which is a doubtful 
thing, it must be clone on the eastern side, about thirty yards from the 
shore ; where the fall is formed by three layer of rocks, one below the 
other : the pitch of none of whicii appears higher than five feet. 

Above the falls, for forty or fifty miles, ti)c navigation is much impeded 
by shoals and ripples ; and would be considered impracticable by persons not 
determined to proceed ; for the men must wade, and pusli the boat along, 
a great portion of the distance. Below Crow rivei', they killed an animal 
unknown to Mr. Pike, called a Blairetiu. 

Opposite to the mouth of Crow river they found a bark canoe cut to pieces 
by tomahawks, and the paddles broken on sliore. They continued to meet 
with the wrecks of canoes as they ascended, — eight in the whole. From 
the form of these canoes, the interpreter supposed them to be Sioux j 
and some broken ai-rov/s fomid with them, he pronounced to be Sautem-s. 
These circumstances led to the conclusion that the canoes had belonged to 
a party of Sioux, who had been attacked by the Sauteurs, and all either kill- 
ed or taken. The interpreter was alarmed lest they might be attacked by 
the Chipcwaya, under the supposition of being Sioux traders, before an ex- 
planation could Uike place ; three Frenchmen whom they had caught ashore 
neai' this place, having been killed the last spring. Notwithstanding this 
caution, Mr. Pike was frequently on shore in pursuit of game, which had be- 
come more plentiful since passing the tails of St. Anthony, than it was below. 
Elk, bear, racoons, pheasants, geese and prairie hens, were frequently 
met with. 

On the 5th of October they passed several old Sioux encampments, all of 
whicii were fortified ; th^y found five litters on which the sick, or wounded 
had been carried. A hard battle had been fought here between the Sioux 
and Sauteurs, in the present year. On the next day when hunting, Mr. 
Pike found a small red capot, hung on a tree : tiiis the interpreter said was 
an offering to the Bon Dicu. 

On the morning of the 10th they reached the place where Mr. Rienville 
and Monsr. Perlier wintered in 1797. Above it is a cluster of more than 
twenty islands in the com-se of four miles, which they named the Beaver 
islands from the great signs of those animals which were exhibited, there 
beii'.g dams on every isknii, and roads from them every two ox three rods. 



AMEtllCAK STAT£ PAPERS. 5^ 

In die evening they arrived at the grand rapids. These falls ai-e dangerous 
and difficult to pass, from the inequality in tlie depth of the water, and num- 
ber of rocks. The boats must be lifted over rocks not covered by one foot 
of water, while the next step plunges the boatman over his h(.-ad.— 
Tiie boats frequently swing on these rocks, to the great hazard of tlieir 
bilging. 

Five miles higlier than the rapid.? they found their large boat to leak so 
fast, as to render it nccessai-y to imload her. Near a wiu- encampment, at 
this place, was a painted buckskin and a piece of scarlet cloth suspended on 
ihe limb of a tree ; supposed to be a Matcho Manitou, to render their en- 
terprlze successful ; less superstitious than tlie Indians, Mr. Pike convert- 
ed this donation to the evil spirit, to his own use. 

On the thirteentli they passed a handsome little river ; which enters the 
Mississippi from the east. Here, on the only timbered land they had sedn 
above the falls of Saint Anthony was disco\ ered the first signs of buffaloe. 

On the day following, when hunting, Mr. Pike came on a trail which he 
supposed to be of sa^ aijes ; he pm-sued it with great caution for some time, 
wiien he started a large bear which had been feeding on the carcase of a 
deer. The river became shoal, rapid and full of islands as they ascended : 
it is skirted in some places by well timbered land, while swamps of hem^ 
lock and white pine frequently appear. 

On the morning of tlie 16th the ground was covered with snow, twA 
inches deep, which had fallen in the pieceding night. It continiied snowing, 
and the party had to pass a rapid immediately above thtm by wrding to their 
ttecks in the water. Mr. Pike liaving determined to reach Le Riviere de 
Corbeau, tlie highest point ever made by traders in their bai'k canoes, an at- 
temp"^ was made to get over the rapids. After some hours exertion tliey 
were obliged to put ashore, at about two thirds up the rapids, with their 
limbs benumbed by the cold. Their boats filled with water so fast, as to 
keep most of tl>e hands employed in bailing. The Serjeant, a very stout 
tnan, had broken a blood vessel, and discharged nearly two quarts of blood 
by the mouth : one of the corporals evacuated nearly a pint when he at- 
tempted to void his mine. These circumstances, and four of his men having 
previously been rendered useless,shewed the necessity of abandoning the i-iv- 
er with the large boats, and erecting huts for the winter, where some of the 
pai'ty miglit be left whilst the otliers proceeded to the source of the river. 
The beauty of the situation, plenty of game, and abundance of fine pine 
timber in its vicinity, wei-e additional reasons for stopping at this place. 

Constructing small canoes for the purpose of continuing the voyage as 
far as practicable, and erecting tlie log huts, or station, for the paily who 
were to remain here, occupied those who were not employed in hunting un- 
til the 2d of November. 

Before leaving this place Mr. Pike had determined to get an elk, the 
signs of which were numerous. For this pui-pose he went down tlie river 
about twelve miles to a prairie on the east side, accompanied by one of his 
detachment. They fell in with a large di"ovc of elk, and followed them, 
until tliey were weary, without killing Uny : they shot at and wounded deer 
which they could not afterwards track, and closed their fij-st day " hungry, 
cold, and fatigued !" Resuming their chase of the elk with the morning^ 
they attemped to drive them into the wood, but the leader of the drove 
breaking past them, the otl'.ers followed him fearlessly in the s.ime track. 
Their fire on tlie passing drove produced no effect. Thus disappointed 
they attempted to reach the riAer, by pursuing a south course. It 
carried them to Elk lake, which is about five miles long, and two miles 
wide, at the close of the second day. On both its banks they observed 
Vol. IV. Appendix, E 



34 AMEJRICAN STAXii PAPERS. 

droves of eik ; and about sunset, two bucks of a drove, wliich was crossiflgf 
the prairie, carat; near tliem. One of them was killed ; and, as it fulfilled 
the promise which Mr. Pike had made when he left the station, — the death 
of this elk recom|>ensed him for the fatigue of two days spent without food 
in the pui-suit ! Whilst carrying- one hall' to their fire, at the distance of a 
mile, the wolves seized the remainder. 

One of the men having killed two deer about six miles below their en- 
campment, and neai- the river, three of the party were sent in a canoe for 
them on the evening of the 6th with directions to retm-n in the morning. 
It snowed all night ; and the men not i-eturning, Mr, Pike v/ent in search of 
them to the place where he understood the game had been killed. Disco* 
vering nothing- of his men there, aiid knowing the hostile disposition of the 
Chipeways to persons found on this part of the i-iver, whom they suppose 
are traders, he became uneasy, as to their fate. The snow continued to fall 
very fast, it was near a foot in depth, and he could scai-cely find wood 
enough to make a fire for the night. The ice was forming rapidly in 
the river. The men not arriving in the covu'se of the evening, he 
determined in the morning to retuin to the station ; and with a pai'ty 
resume the search for them. After w^riting on the snow directions 
to tlie lost men, should they arrive, and putting up his handkerchief as 
a flag-, he took about ten pounds of meat, a bear skin, liis gun and sword, 
and thus laden set out. Such was the anxiety of mind he laboured tinder 
that, notwitlistanding the load he carried, he reached the bottom above their 
former hunting camp before night. In the course of the jom-ney he passed 
several deer, and one elk, but declined firing, as it was doubtful whether he 
could have saved the meat had he been so fortunate as to kill any of them. 
While endeavouring to kindle a fire, he heard the sound of voices ; on 
looking up he discovei-ed a corporal and three of his men passing. He call- 
ed them to him, and they encamped together. They were going down the 
river in order to render what service they could to the pai-ty, whom they 
supposed had met with some difficulty from the ice, in ascending the river 
\vlth their venison. They were very much hurt to find that Mr. Pike could 
give no tidings of the men. After experiencing some difficulty in crossing 
the river, they reached the station about noon. On the 11th two of the 
tbree men v.'lio were supposed to be lost, ai-rived ; tlieyhad seen and under- 
stood the writing on the snow, and had left tlie other man at their camp to 
take care of the meat. Their detention was owing to their not being able 
to find tlie deer which had been shot, and losing themselves in the swamp 
the first nig-ht. 

In the afternoon of the 14th it rained with severe thunder and lightning ; 
which was followed by an extraordinary cold evening. 

Whatever charms there may be in the occasional pursuit of game, the 
iife of a hunter is a siavisii and precarious one. For although Mr. Pike had 
sometimes killed as much as six hundred weight in one day, at other times 
he spent three days, and only pi'ocured some small birds which he was com- 
pelled to shoot, to prevent his men from starving. 

To hunt the elk with success, tlie gun should cai-rv a baU of a size not 
more than 30 in the pound r — an ounce ball would be preferable. Were 
these animals followed on hoi-seback, by persons dextrous in the use of the 
bow and arrow, he supposes greater numbers might be killed tlian by any 
other means. The hunter might ride along side of them, lodge his ai'vow 
in wluit part of the body he pleased, and leaving the wounded one pass on 
to others. 

On tlie 27'th the men were sent down the river for eleven deer which one 
'>f tilt buntevs had killed. Thev returned v/itli seventeen deer and two eJk^ 



AMERICAN STATE *APEh€. 95 

ii'om the lower camp, and accompanied by two Indians, who stated that 
they belonged to a band residing- ou lake Superiour, called Fols Avoines. 
Their language was that of tlie Chipeways. They said that Mr. Dickson 
and three other traders were established about sixty miles below ; and that 
there were seventy lodges of Sioux on the Mississippi. The Indians were 
well satisfied with tlieir reception ; and in consequence of the inf()rmation 
they gave, Mr. Pike dispatched two of his men with a letter to Mr. Dick- 
son, for the purpose of attaclung the most powerful tribes in this quarter to 
his interests. On the 29th a Sioux (the son of a v/arrior called the Killien 
Rouge of the gens de feuille) and a Fols Avoine, came to the post. Hp 
stated that having- struck their trail, and finding some to be shoe tracks, he 
supposed it led to the cstablimcnt of some trader, and followed it. He also 
stated that Mr. Dickson had told the Sioux " that they might hunt where, 
they pleased, as the United States party were gone ahead, and would cause 
the Cliipev/ays to treat them with friendship whenever Mr. Pike met with 
that nation. That he had barred up tlie mouth of the St. Peters, so that no 
liquor could ascend that river ; but if tiiey came on the Mississippi, they 
should have what liquor they pleased, and that the party had v gi-cat deal of 
merchandize to give to Indians in presents." 

This misrepresentation of facts seemed intended to serve his own vicwfi, 
and drav.' the Indians from the traders on the St. Peter's who adhered to 
the restricting law against supplying them v/ith liquor to his own camp on 
the Mississippi, where he promised to supply them : it might have a farther 
ill effect : for, under tlie expectation of hunting on the Mississippi in secu- 
rity, should any of them be killed, the blame would attach to the United 
States party. Mr. Pike therefore explained fully to the young chief the real 
facts and his ideas on the subject, and dismissed them on the day following 
with some trifling presents. 

On the 3rd of December, Mr. Dickson with an engagec, and a young 
Jndian, arrived at the post, where they were received with politeness and 
attention. After a serious conversation, on the iriformation given by tlie 
yoimg chief, it appeared to be in part incorrect : for Mr. D. denied, that ei- 
ther liimself, or any houses under his direction, sold liquor. Kc gave such 
useful information relative to the future route of the party as led to a full 
x:onfidence in the fulfilment of the object of tlie vovage. He appcio-ed to he 
a gentleman of general commercial knov/ledge, and much geographical in- 
formation relative to tlie western country. When Mr. Dickson left the sta- 
don on the 4th lie furnished Mr. Pike with a letter to a young man of his 
house on lake de Sable, and offered his services to any extent. 

Three families of tlie Fols Avoine Indians arrived on the 6tli, as ako a 
Siou.x Indian who pretended to liave been scut from the Gev,; de Feuille, to 
give information that the YanJ.tons and Sussitones, two of the most savage 
kands of the Sioux, residing »ear tiie heads of the St. Peter's and tlie 
Missouri river, had connnenced the war dance, and would depart in a few 
days ; in which case he conceived it best tlu^t the Fols Avoine should keep 
under the protection of the exijlorlng- party. He stated tliat he ga^•e tliis 
information, as the makinj.!; a stvol.c on the Chi])eway would tt-nd to defeat 
the object of the United States party. Altlioiigh there were reasons for 
believing him a self deputed envoy, Mr. Pike offered to pay citTicr him or 
any other young Sioux, who would go to these bands and deliver liis words. 
The Indian promised to make them known on his return. On the next day 
another of the Fols Avoine tril*e encamped near the stnck.ade. The Indiar, 
named Chien Blanche, was an intelligent man ; and stated that he had win- 
tered on th;it place for ten years past. Mr. Pike visited liis lodge in the af 
te.moon, a!:d found him se:itcd in th? undst of hi^ children, and gra,n'.] cliii.'."'. 



35 AMERICAlf STATE PAPERS. 

ren, amounting to ten in number. His wife, although advajiced in years, 
■Was suckling two children that appeared nearly of the same age (two years) 
and which might have been taken for twins, had not one been of a much 
clearer complexion than the other. On enquii-y he found that the fair one 
was the child of an Englishman by one of Chien Blanche's daughters lately 
dead ; since which, the grand mother had taken it to her breast. The 
lodge was covered with mats made of platted rushes. To these Indians he 
was obliged to give meat ; — but on explaining the situation the party were 
in, with respect to pro\dsions, the Chien Blanche said, they were then with- 
out, food, but would retm-n a greater quantity for it in the course of the 
winter. 

An invalid Sioux arrived on the 8th, with information that the Sissatones, 
and Yanktons were determined to make war on tlie Chipeways, and that 
they had formed a party of 150, or 160 men for the purpose : but that a part 
of the Sissatones had refused to join in the expedition, and would visit the 
exploring party on the day following. This information led Mr. Pike to 
defer the voyage to Lac Sangsue, which he had in contemplation, until he 
had seen these Indians ; as he mig-ht, perhaps, be the means of preventing 
the intended stroke against the Chipeways. b\ expectation of a visit from 
the Indians, he had two large kettles of soup made for them : The Sioux 
did not arrive. 

Leaving some of his men at Uie stockade, or station, Mr. Pike set off 
with the remainder in prosecution of his voyage to the source of the river, 
with sledges similar to those used by farmers, and capable of holding about 
four hundred weight. They crossed the river on the evening of the 9th of 
December, and encamped above the rapids. In tlie morning they began 
their march up the river : each of the sleds was drawn by two men, and 
the perogue towed by three. They found it difficult to get along ; the snow 
being dissolved in many places on the prairie. The men with the canoe had 
frequently to wade and drag her over the rocks. As the party had now to 
depend altogether on game for their subsistence, the real dangers, and the 
difficulties to be encountered were communicated to the men Uiis evening. 

In the afternoon of the second day, tliey heard not less than fifty guns fired 
ahead ; and, after dai'k, five more, with a noise and sliouting in the praiiie, 
Mr.Pike and a corporal pushed on 8 miles in advance of the party, with the hope 
of finding the Indians.but without success. They however found that the riv- 
er was frozen so as to enable them to travel on tlie ice, and proceed three 
times as fast as they had hitherto done. A Fols Avoine, who met the party, 
informed them that, in the rear of the hills which bordered the prairie, there 
"were small lakes which, by portages, communicated with lake Superior ;. 
and, that in one day's march in that direction, Englisli trading houses would 
be met witli. That the Chipeways were then hunting, and that the Sioux, 
who had visited tlie station on the 29th of the preceding montli, on hearing 
the firing, had prudently retired to the west side of the Mississippi. 

Persons unacquainted with the enterprising spirit . of trade, and of the 
people of the North West company, would be surprised to find they had 
penetrated the wildei'ness so fai" from lake Superior, by lakes which are 
little better than morshes. It n^ay serve to shew the difficulty of putting a 
barrier to their trade in this qu:irter. 

Whilst proceeding up the river, the foremost of the sleds, which contained 
all their ammunition, and the baggage of Mr. Pike, fell through the ice. 
The men had to get into tlie river, up to their middles in water, to recover 
the aiticles : and on an examination of them it was found that all their cart- 
ridges, and se^erul pounds of battle powder was spoilt ; what they hap- 
pened to have in Kegs was saved, or tliey must have given up ibe prosetu- 



AMERI#AN STATE PAPERS. ^ ST 

tion of the voyage for want of the means of supplying- themselves witli pro- 
visions. Several other articles were materially injvn-ed. At the time they 
met with this accident, two Fols Avoine Indiims arrived ; one of whom hod 
been at the camp on tlie 29th of November, in company witli the Sioux. 
Mr. Pike shewed them by sig-ns where he intended to encamp, and invited 
them to join liim. They retired, but returned in the evening to the camp 
with each a deer, as a present. In the morning a small pi-esent was made in 
return, and the canoe was g-iven to them to keep until the spring. After re- 
maining- two days encamped tliey left it on the morning of the 17tl), with 
their sleds very heavy laden. Having- eleven deer on hand, and it being- ne- 
cessary to lighten their load, a hole was dug in the ground, in wliich a bar- 
rel of pork, and one of flour, wrapped in deer skins to keep off the damp, 
were deposited. After fiUing up the pit, they made their fire immediately 
over it. On the evening of the 20th, they deposited another barrel of flour, 
and lieard three guns fned at sunset. 

On Tuesday, the 24th of December, tliey readied the Isle de Corheau-, 
in lat. 45 deg. 40 min. 50 sec. north, at the confluence of the riviere de Cor- 
beau with the Mississippi. The latter river, above this place, is very narrow, 
and changes its general direction, from west to northeast. 

From the frequent breaking of their sleds, and accidents of that nature, 
the progi-ess of the party was very slow : sometimes not more than four 
miles in a day, and seldom exceeding ten. 

After passing the riviere de Corbeau, the timber consisted of yellow and 
pitch pine : scarcely any of which had been met with below. Much of it 
^ dead. The coimtry becomes dreary and barren, witli high rocks and bare 
knobs. As they proceedexl up the river, the bottoms were found to extend, 
and the country was full of small lakes. On approacJiing Pine river, a new 
species of pine called by the French " Sappine," was obsen'ed to grow in 
abundance. 

At the mouth of Pine river is the site of a krge Chipeway encampment, 
of fourteen lodges. It had been occupied in the summer, but was tlien va- 
cant. From the marks which were left, it appeared that they had marched 
a party of fifty warriors against tlie Sioux, and had killed four men and four 
women. The women were represented by carved images of pine or cedar, 
the four men were painted and planted up to their middles in the gi'ound, 
with four poles, sharpened at the ends, by their sides. Near this pljice they 
observed poles, on which deer skins, plumes, silk handkerchiefs, &:c. were 
suspended ; as also a circular hoop of cedar with something attached to it, 
which had the appearance of a scalp. Near the site of each lodge was a 
hole dug in the ground, witit boughs ready to coyer it, as a retreat for their 
women and childi-cn in case of an attack from the Sioux. 

Higlier up they passed six very elegant bark canoes, which had been 
laid up by the Chipeways ; as also a camp, curiously formed of pine bran- 
ches ; which did not seem to have been evacuated more than ten days. 

On the evening of the 2nd of January, 1806, the centinel gave informa- 
tion that some Indians were coming at full speed upon the trail or track of 
the party. 'Ilie men v.'cre ordered to stand by their arms carelessly. The 
Indians were immediately in the comp, and saluted the flag by a discharge 
of three pieces, when four Chipeways, one EngUsliman, and a Frenchman of 
the North West company presented themselves. They stated, that sonte 
women having discovered the trail, and not kijnwing but it might be tlieir 
enemies, had given the alarm. They had heard of the United States jjnrtv, 
and revered tlie flag. Mr. Grant (the Englishm.an) had only arrived tlie 
day before from lake de Sable ; from which he had mairlied in a day and a 
half. The Indians were presented with half a deer, for which they were 
very thankful, having been kept in their camp .some days by i)ie discovery of 
the fires which the exploring- party made where they stopped. 



o8 AMERICAN STATE fAPERii- 

The next morning' the party continued tlieir journey, except Mr. Pike and 
one of his men, who accompanied Mr. Grant to his establishment on the 
Red Cedar lake. The British Hag was flying at tho tradnig house :— Mr 
Grant said it belonged to tlie Indians. After explaining to a Chipeway 
warrior, called ' Curlyhead,' the objects of the voyage, and receiving his ans- 
wer, which was that he sliould remain quiet till their return, they eat break- 
fast and parted. Mr. Pike and his companion overtook the rest of the par- 
ty at the close of the day- 

In' the night of the 4th, Mr. Pike's tent was discovered by the centinel 
to be on fire ; the party were alarmed in time to prevent any other damage 
thiin tlie loss of the tent, wliich was a double one, and some articles of 
cloathing which had been hung to dry. They fortunately saved three small 
kegs of powder from the flames, which were in the tent. 

On the 6th, the snow was three feet deep, and continued falling all the 
day. In this day's march they met two Frenchmen, of the N. W. company, 
each of whom carried about 200 pounds weight on his back. They had 
rackets on. Mr. Grant, and the Frenchman with him, were gone on beforew 
The next day was so intensely cold that several of the men had their extre- 
mities frozen. It was found necessaiy to send a person forward to make 
fires every three miles. 

Supposing themselves to be at no great distance from Sandy lake, Mr . 
Pike/ with a corporal, left the part^', and went to view it. They walked 
briskly till towards evening, when they met a yomig Indian, one of those 
who had visited their camp near Red Cedar lake. They endeavoured to ex- 
plain to him their v/ish of reaching lake de Sable that evening. He turned 
back with tliem until they came to a trail which led across the woods, 
which he sigTiified was a near course. They went with him, and soon found 
themselves in a Chipeway encampment, to v/hich the friendly savage had 
led them, with the expectation of their remaining at it all night, knowing- 
it to be too late to reach the lake at a reasonable hour. On their refusing 
to stay he put them in the right road. At dusk they arrived at the place 
where the tra^k left the Mississippi, when they traversed two leagues of 
the wilderness without much difficulty, and at last struck the shore of the 
lake de Sable, over a branch of which "their course lay. The snow having 
covered the trail of the Frenchmen who had passed before v/ith rackets, 
they were fearful of losing themselves on the lake. The reason for such 
apprehension can be best felt by those who have been exposed on a naked 
and dreary plain, in a high latitude, on a December nJght, when the mer- 
cury in Farenheit's thermom.eter stood twenty-seven degrees below 0. 
.Cheered by a belief that they saw the opposite shore, they proceeded in a 
direct line ; and after some time had the satisfaction of discovering lights 
in the houses. On their arrival they found, to their s'.uinnze, alai-ge stocks 
ade. The gate being opened they entered, and proceeded to the quarters of 
J,Ir. Grant, where they were treated with the greate;:t Jiospitality. 

This establishment was made by the Noi'th West company twelve j'ears 
before :* v.-hen it was under the direction of Mr. Ctiarles Bousky. It has 
now acquired sucli a degree of regularity as to allow the superintendant to 
5ive with tolerable comfort. They have horses, which v.'ere obtained from 
the Indians on Red river. 

They raise plenty of potatoes, and the lake furnishes them with pike, 
.■juckers, pickerel, and white fish, in any number. Beaver, deer, and moose, 
sre in abundance ; but their principal depem'ance is on the wild oats, 
which they purcliase from the Indians at the rate of one dollar and a half 
die bushel. Flour, pork, and salt mav be considered as interdicted articles 
CO persons not principals in the establishment. Flour sells at half a dollar, 
jl-x}f. ano doll-ir. pork ^0 cents, sugar half a dellar.. and tea at four doUarc aud 



AMEHK-AN blATK PArKHi-. 29 

a half a pound ! The sugar Is obtiiined from the Indians, and made from 
maple juice. 

The remainder of the party did not arrive at the establishment of the N. 
W. company, on lak£ de Sable, until the evening of the thirteenth ; one of 
tlie men had been much injured by the fall of a tree ; this, with the badness 
of tlie ice on Lake ifiver, (occasioned by the marshes which abound on It) 
and tlu'ough which one of the sleds fell, had much retarded their progress. 
At the establishmei.it tliey were furnished with a warm room, and well treat- 
ed. Mr. Grant had fjone to an Indian lodge to receive his credits. 

On tlie 14th Mr. Pike, crossed the lake, and ascertained tlie latitude to be 
46 deg. 9 min. 20 sec. north. Mr. Grant retui'ued on this day, with a 
quantity of fius, and eleven beaver carcases. 

Mr. Pike, and Mr. Gr.int, accompanied by two of the party, went to view 
the lake, and found it more extensive than he had imagined. On leaving the 
stockade they mc:t an Indian, whose countenance expressed great astonish- 
ment when told that Mr. Pike was an American ; for, it is here confessed 
that the savages express the greatest veneration for the American character 
when it is connected with warlike acliievements : they say, " the American 
is neither a Frenchman nor an Englishman, but a white Indian." At this 
pLace the men were employed in making sleds to conform to those used in 
tills part of the country : which are, a single plank turned up like the head 
of a violin. The baggage is lashed on in bags or sacks. 

On the 19th two men of the N. W. company arrived from the Fond de 
Lac Supericm- with letters ; one of which was from their establishment 
in Atabasca, and had been since May in coming. 

While at this post, <they eat beaver dressed in every respect as roasted 
pig. It had no unpleasant taste ; on the contrary, was very exctUent eating. 
The liead of the moo--.e, which they also eat here, when well boiled, was 
ronsidered equal to the tail of the beaver, to which in taste and substance it 
is similar. 

On the 20th Ja-niar\ -, the party and sleds left the North West company'.-j 
station, and reached tii.e portuge bctv/een tlie ^Mississippi and Leech Lake 
river. It began to sno w in the evening, and continued all night and the 
morning of the next d ly. From tlie quantity of water on the ice, it was 
found impracticable to get all the baggage along ; eight men were there- 
fore sent back laden wl th those articles which were not absolutely necessai-y 
to the party. TMr. Grant who Inul accompanied them thus far, not being so 
incumbered with article. s as liiey were, left them on the morning of tlie se- 
cond day. As they approached the neigiibourhood of a lodge or house be- 
longing to Mr. Grant, wl lerc he had promised to halt half a day, Mr. Pike, 
accompanied by an Indian in his jjarty and one of the men, left the main 
body, to go to it : the soldier, not walking with the same speed, was left 
behind, while Mr. Pike and his companion reached the house about sunset: 
they met two of Mr. Grarit's men, who had k-ft it in the morning, on their 
return to the lake de Sable. Here they pus.sed an uncomfortable night ; 
having nothing to eat, very little fire wood, and no blankets. The Indian, 
however, slept sound, while Mr. Pike sat over tlie few coals their fire pro- 
duced. The man they liad left behind did not arrive that night. The In- 
dian having expressed a wish to go after his son, left Mr. Pike to his reflec- 
tions in solitude, the next morning. About ten o'clock the soldier arrived : 
he had followed them until some time in the night, when, finding he could 
not overtake his company, he made a fire and halted ; but having no ax, 
could scai-cely k{;ep himself from freezing. He met the Indian in the morn- 
ing, wlio made signs for him to go on. After the whole party had arrived 
Ht this lodge. M;. Pike di^i'" mined to pj-oceed on to the bead of the river. 



40 AMERICAN STATE PAPKRS. 

accompanied by one of his young- men, named Miller. He lefltlie camp on 
tlie morning- of tJie 29tii, wlien it was snowing very fast. Tliey passed an 
island, one rapid and a small lake, and arrived about one o'clock at the liills 
of Pakaganut ; the greatest impediment to the navigation of the Mississippi, 
except the falls of Saint Anthony, between its som-ce and the Gulph of 
Mexico. They stopped for the night at three Indian lodges, which did not " 
appear to have been left more than three days ; and where they found a fine 
parcel of split wood. By cutting down three sappine trees, and weaving- 
their branches into the windwai-d side of the lodges, so as to protect them 
from the storm, they had a tolerable night's lodging. Not being able to find a 
trail, they had to pass through a dismal cv-press swamp in the morning, before 
they reached the river. They struck it at a small lake, and perceived a 
ti-ack through it, which they knew to be Mr. Grant's by his mark, ' a cut 
off,' which had been agreed upon before they parted : following this, they 
got on very well till they arrived at a small lake whej-e the ti'ail was entire- 
ly obliterated. After some seai-ch or. the opposite side they discovered it, 
and passed through a dismal swamp, beyond which was another lake, 
where the track was again lost. They directed their course for a point 
about three miles distant, and where they found a Cliipeway lodge of one 
man, his wife, five children, and an old woman. They were received by 
these savages with great barbarity ; the dogs were set on them, and wheti 
tliey reached tlie lodg*e, the Indians endeavoured to thrust their hands into 
their pockets. This was resented in such a manner as to let them know it 
would not be borne with through fear, and, that the strangers were Che- 
wockmen, or Amei-icans. Tiicy were then treated more civilly. After ar- 
rang-ing their camp, Mr. Pike went into tlie lodge, where he was presented 
with a plate of di'ied meat. He requested Miller to bring about two gills of 
whiskey which made them all good friends. The old sqitaw gave him in return 
more meat, and ofic-red some tobacco, the latter of which he declined ; and 
gave her an ordi r on his corporal for a knife, and half a carrot of tobacco. 
After Mr. Pike had gone to his own fire, the old man came out, and propo- 
sed to trade lieaver skins for wliiskey ; meeting a reliisal, he returned, and 
directly tlie old woman came out witli a beaver skin ; she being also refused, 
he returned to the ch;u-g-e witli a quantity of dried meat, which on any 
other terms would have been acceptable ; a peremptory refusal now, put an 
end to all farther apphcation. Indeed it appeared, that such was their de- 
sire of obtaining liquor, that a quart of whiskey would have purchased all 
lihe family was worth ! The next morning Mr. Pik.e took his clothes into 
the Indian lodge to dress, but was received very coolly ; a present to the 
\vi{'e of a little salt, and a dram to the Indian unasked for, appeai-cd to ame- 
liorate their manners ; andthey gave directions of the rout to be pursued. 

They passed the lake, or morass, and entered on the meadow through 
which tiie Mississippi winds its course of nearly fifteen miles ; at the 
head of tliis meadow they disco\'ered that tliey had missed the river, wliich 
they regained by making a tui-n of two miles. They passed tlie fork made 
by the lake Sangsue branch and that from lake Winepic. Taking a west 
course, they crossed a meadow, or prairie. The river here is only fifteen 
yards wide. They encamped about a mile above the meadow, where they 
saw an animid which, from the leaps it took, seemed to be a panther, but of 
twice the size of the panther on the lower Mississippi. It shewed some 
di.sp()sition to approach Mr. Pike, which he wished to encourage by squatt- 
ing down, and desiring Miller to do the same behind him, but without ef- 
feet. Tlie niglit was so cold, that the spirits they had in a keg congealed to 
tlie consistence of lioney. Early in the morning they left the camp, and 
passed along a continued suite of meadows, until they reached the Sangsue 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 41 

lake, a little after midday. The sight of this lalce was highly grateful to 
their feehngs, it being the main source of the Mississippi ; but the little 
lake Winepic is navigable to Red Cedar lake, which is the extremity of 
tlie navigation, by a communication of five leagues. Across the lake h was 
twelve miles to the establishment of the North West Company, which they 
arrived at about ten o'clock in the evening. Tiie gates were locked, but on 
knocking they were admitted, and received by Mr. Hugh M'Gillis, with 
great politeness and hospitality ; and had a supper of biscuit, butter, and 
cheese ! 

After remaining a few days witliin doors, to recover from the fatigue of 
travelling, Mr. Pike, accompanied by Mr. M'Gillis, went to visit Mr. An- 
derson, the agent of Mr. Dickson, at the west end of the lake, in a situation 
favourable for trade. He went in a cabriole, formed to cari-y one person. 
It is constructed of boards planed smooth, and turned up about two feet in 
front, where they come to a point ; tlie width behind is about two feet and 
a half, where there is fixed a box covered with dressed skins, and painted. 
Tliis box is open behind, but covered in front nearly two thirds of the length. 
When wi-apped up in his bufialoe robe, the traveller slides his feet into this 
box, or boot, horizontally, sitting with his body upright, and his back sup- 
ported by a cushion. The horse draws in shafts. Thus seated, and the 
head and extremities covered by a fui* cap, and other warm clothing, he 
bids defiance to wind and weather. 

On returning to tlie N. W. establishment, they foimd that some of the 
Indians had already arrived from their hunting camps ; and a Mons. Bous- 
sant, who had been sent from the establisliment some time before on busi- 
ness of the company, but who not returning when expected, it was sup- 
posed the Indians had killed him. Mr. Grant had been sent in search of, 
and retained with him, to the great joy of the factory. On the 10th they 
hoisted tlie American flag, on the staff on which the English jack was then 
flying. Some Indians and riflemen, after a few shot, broke the iron pin to 
wliich it was fiistened, and brought it to the ground. 

The ' Sweet,' Buck, Burnt, and other chiefs, came in on the day follow- 
ing. The first of them is a venerable old man. He says that, "when he was 
made a man, and began to hunt, the Sioux occupied this ground ; that they 
evacuated it in the same year in which the French missionaries were killed 
at the river Pacagama." 

Mr. M'Gillis, with two of his men, and Mr. Pike, with a corporal of his 
corps, left Leech lake on the morning of the 12th of February, and arrived 
at the company's house, on Red Cedar lake, at sun-set — a distance of thirty 
miles. This lake is about ten miles long, and six miles wide. From the 
Straights to where tlie Mississippi runs out of the lake, is called six miles. 
The bay at the entrance extends nearty east and west six miles. It is about 
two miles and a half from the north side to a big point. This may be called 
the upper source of the Mississippi, being fifteen miles above lake Winepic, 
and the extent of canoe navigation. It is only two leagues from some of the 
waters of Hudson's bay. 

The next day, Mr. Pike took observations for determining the latitude of 
the place, and found it to be 47 deg. 42 mln. 40 sec. N. Mr. Thompson, in 
the year 1798, determined the latitude of the company's house here to be 
in 47 deg. 50 min. N. which he considered as the source of the Mississippi. 

On wallcing about three miles back from the lake, Mr. Pike found two- 
tliirds of the country, at least, covered with water. 

Here they eat of the white fish, broiled on iron grates, fixed horizontally 
in the chimney. The entrails are left in the fish while dressing' ! From 
Vol. IV, Appendix. F 



42 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

hence one of the men walked to lake Winepic, and returned by one o'clock 
with the stem of the Sweet's pipe : — to liim of as much consequence in his 
affairs with the Sioux, as the credentials of a civilized society to its am* 
bassador. 

They left this house, and their hospitable hosts, (a Canadian, and his wife, 
a Chipeway squaw) who relinquished to their use tlie only article which 
might be called a bed, attended them as servants, and could not be persuad- 
ed to touch a mouthful until their guests had finished their repasts, and ar- 
rived at the factory about sunset ; having been dj-awn at least ten miles in a 
sleigh by two dogs, who were loaded with six hundi-ed pounds, and march- 
ed so fast, as to make it difficult for men with snow shoes to keep up witk 
them. 

On the 16th Mr. Pike held a council with the chiefs and warriors of this 
place, and of Red lake. It required patience, coolness, and some manage- 
ment, to attain what he had in view ; which was, that these Indians should 
make peace with the Sioux, and deliver up their medals and flags ; that 
some of their cliiefs should accompany him to Saint Louis, and, that they^ 
as a proof of their pacific disposition, should smoke out of the Wabashar's 
pipe, wliich lay before them, on the table. They all smoked, from the head 
chief to the youngest sokher ; and generally delivered up their medals and 
flags with a good grace ; the Flatmouth excepted, who said he had left both 
his at his camp, three days' march from this place. He, however, prom- 
ised to deliver them to Mr. M'Gillis to be forwarded. The old Sweet 
thought it most proper to return to the Indians of Red lake. Red river, and 
Rainy Lake river. The Flatmouth also said, it was necessary for him to 
return to his young warriors. The other chiefs did not think themselves of 
consequence enough to offer any reason for not following Mr. Pike to St. 
Louis ; a journey of such extent, and through hostile tribes. 

Mr. Pike then replied, " he was sorry to find that the hearts of the Sau- 
teaurs of this quarter were so weak. That the other nations would say, 
• What, Is there no soldiers at Leech, Red, and Rainy lakes, who have 
hearts to carry the calumet of their chief, to their father' I" This had the 
eflfect of rousing them. The Buck, and the Beau, two of the most celebrat- 
ed young warriors, rose, and offered tliemselves for the employ. They 
were accepted as the children of Mr. Pike, whilst he was installed their fa- 
ther. The example of these two animated the rest, and it would not have 
been difficult to have raised a company among them. The Beau is brother 
to the Flatmouth. He then gave his young soldiers a dance, with a small 
dram ; they wanted more liquor, but a firm denial convinced them of the 
folly of the attempt. On the next day, the chief of the land brought in his 
fla-" and medal : — Preparations were made for the party to march. The 
Sweet was instructed how to send the ' Parole' to the Indians of Red river. 
The srtldiers then went through their manual exercise, and fired thi-ee blank 
rounds ; whicli not a little astonished the Indians. 

On the morning of the 18th of February, the men were marched for Red 
Cedar lake ; Mr. Pike, and a guide which Mr. M'Gillis had provided for 
him, were to follow afterwards. They were all provided with snow shoe^ 
and marched off" pretty well, amidst the shouts and acclamations of the In- 
dians, who had generally remained for the purpose of witnessing their de- 
parture. 

Mr. Anderson arrived in the night, having concluded to go down the 
river to Mr. Dickson in company with Mr. Pike and his party. In the morn- 
ing, Mr. Pike, Mr. L'Rone, and his two two young Indians left the hospita- 
ble abode of Mr. M'GilUs. He had presented Mr. Pike with his dogs and 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 43" 

cabriole, here valued at one hundred dollars. They crossed Leech lake m 
a south-east direction, twenty-four miles. One of the dogs broke from his 
harness, and would not suffer them to catch him again on that day ; the 
other had to draw the whole load, of at least seven hundred and fifty pounds, 
from lake to lake. On resuming their march the next day, the men set oft 
three hours before Mr. Pike ; but his sleigh dogs brought him up to them 
before one o'clock. They encamped at half after three, on the bank of 
Sandy lake, having travelled over lakes almost the whole distance. At the 
request of Mr. L'Rone, whom Mr. M'Gillis had sent as a guide, the Indians 
applied for leave for him to accompany the party ; Mr. Pike consented to 
his continuing as far as Red Cedar lake : on this, he personally expressed 
his wish to desert from the service of the North-West company, and join 
the American party. Honour and gratitude forbad sucli an act on the part 
of Mr. Pike : the man was immediately sent back, and the party pursued 
their journey without a guide. Continuing through woods and bushes, 
they came to White Fish lake, which may be considered as the source of 
Pine river. The North- West company had once an establishment at this 
place, here being tiie nearly consumed remains of a stockade about fifty 
feet square. From this place Mr. Pike, accompanied by the young Indians, 
act out in advance of the party to Red Cedar lake. Owing to the badness 
of the road, tlie journey was a very fatiguing one. On arriving there, he 
found Mr. Grant and De Breche (chief of Sandy lake) at the house. From 
this place one of Mr. Grant's men was dispatched to meet the party, and 
carry a bag of rice to them. He met them encamped on the Mississippi ; 
and on the 27th they aiTived with a chief called the White Fisher, and sev- 
en Indians. 

De Breche, in a serious conversation with Mr. Pike, informed him, that 
a string of wampum had been sent to the Chipeways, as he believed, from 
the British commanding officer at Saint Joseph. 

On the 28th of February, the party left Red Cedar lake on their return to 
Saint Louis. The young Indians staid behind, under pretence of waiting 
for the chief De Breche, who had returned to Sandy lake for his flag and 
medals, and was to meet Mr. Pike at his winter station with Mr. Grant, 
about the 15th of the montli following. 

Early on the third of March they passed the place of their encampment 
on Christmas day. Almost immediately afterwards a smoke was discover- 
ed on the western shore by Mr. Pike, who was ahead of his party in his ca- 
briole ; he hallooed, and some Indians appeared on the bank ; they proved 
to be Chipeways who had left Red Cedar lake on the same day the United, 
States party did. 

They presented Mr. Pike with some dried meat, which he gave to his 
sleigh dogs, left their camp, accompanied him down the river some distance, 
and encamped on the west side. At noon the party came to the place 
where they had buried a barrel of flour on the 21st of December, and found 
there a corporal and one of the men from the station. From these men they 
learnt that those who had been left behind were all well ; tliat one of the 
sentinels had been fired on by a Sioux wliom the Serjeant had made drunk ; 
—and, that this Serjeant, contrary to particular instructions, had improperly, 
and without just cause, dissipated almost all the stores which were intend- 
ed fqr the descending voyage. While the travelling party had fared hard, 
and almost perished with hunger ; and by changing their route had lefl 
many very essential articles behind them on Sandy lake, under the expecta- 
tion of replacing them at the station, it was highly mortifying to find their 
hopes so disappointed, tlirough the misconduct of him in whose especial 



i4^ AMERICAN STATE PAfEHii. 

charge they had been left. They took up the bai-rel of flour, and proceedeni 
to the mouth of a httle river which enters the Mississippi from the east. 
The next morning they, by a fire, thawed the ground where their two ba^'- 
rels were deposited on the 19th of December, and took them up. 

They arrived at their station on the morning of the 5th of March, where 
they found all the men in good health After noon they wei-e visited by Mr. 
Diclcson, accompanied by the Killien Rouge, his son, and two other Sioux 
men, and two women, who came to be introduced to the Sauteurs whom 
they expected had come with Mr. Pike from the head of the river. 

While they were here, several Indian chiefs came in to see Mr. Pike. 
With them he held several conversations. Thomas, the Fols Avoine chief, 
gave assurances that he would interest himself in obhging the Paunts to 
deliver up the men v/ho had committed recent murders on the Ouinsconsin 
and Rock rivers ; and, if necessar}^, he would make it a national quarrel oa 
the side of the Americans. This chief is of a noble and masculine figure, 
and an extraordinary hunter : ps an instance of this it is related, that he 
killed forty elk and a bear in one day, chasing the former from the dawn till 
evening. He is animated in the delivery of his speeches. He appears very 
much attached to the Americans. He gave his pipe to be presented to tlie 
Sauteurs on their arrival with assurances of safety on their vo}age, and his 
wish that they would descend the river. The Fils de KilUen Rouge also 
gave his pipe, to be presented to the Sauteur Indians on their arrival ; " to 
make tliem smoke, and to assure tliem of his friendly disposition, and that 
he would v^ait to see them at Mr. Dickson's." 

Thomas made a complaint against a Frenchman by the name of Greignon, 
who resided on Green Bay, who, he said, abused the Indians, and even beat 
them, <vithout provocation. Mr. Pike promised to write to the Indian 
agent at Michlemackinack on tiie occasion. 

In a long conversation with a ' Reynard,' he professed not to believe in 
an hereafter ; but, that the world would be drowned at some futiu-e period ; 
and a question with him was, how it was to be repeopled ? Other Indians, 
however, of his nation, say he is singular in this opinion. 

In an hunting excursion on the opposite side of the river to the statithi, 
Mr. Pike ascended a mountain which borders on the prairie. Here he 
found a stone on which the Indians sharpen their knives, and a war club half 
finished. From this elevated position, the eye wanders over vast prairies, 
with scarcely any other interruption than scattering clumps of trees, wliich, 
at a distance, have the appearance of mountains ; in two or three of those 
the smoke is perceived curhng in its ascent over their tops ; it points out 
the habitation of the wandering savage, and often leads the blood-thirsty- 
warrior to his defenceless prey. 

The voyage of Mr. Pike suspended, for a time at least, this horrid war- 
fare, through a vast extent of country. Peace followed his steps, from the 
prairie des Cliiens to the lower Redriver ! If a subaltern ofiicer with twenty 
men, at such a distance from the seat of his government, can pi-oduce so 
great a change in the m.inds of savages, what may not be expected, when a 
great and independent power, instead of blowing the flames of discord, ex- 
erts its whole influence in the promotion of peace ? Such ai-e the reflections 
which Mr- Pike made on viewing the counti'y below him, and the immedi- 
ate effects which had flowed from the expedition entrusted to his care. 

On returning to the station, he found the Fols Avoine chief, wlio had 
come with the intention of passing the night there. In a conversation he 
mentioned that near the conclusion of the revolutionary war his nation be- 
g'aij to lopk upon him as a warrior Tliey received a ' parole' ffojn the Efi' 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 4a 

glisli at Michlcmackinack ; on which he was dispatched with forty warriors. 
On his arrival, he was requested to lead them against the Americans. To 
this request he replied : — We have considered you and the Americans as 
one people. You are now at war ; how are we to know which has justice 
on tJieir side ? Besides, you white people are, in number, like the leaves on 
tlie trees. Should I march, with my forty wai-riors to Uie field of battle, 
they, with their chief, will be swallowed up, as the big water embosoms the 
smidl rivulets which run into it. No ! I will return to my country, where 
my warriors may be of service against our red enemies, and their actions 
commemorated in the dance of our nation." Mr. Grant and the Chipeway 
chief not arriving at the station on the 15th, agreeably to their promise, Mr. 
Pike with his interpreter and one man, set out on a visit to Thomas, the 
Fols Avpine chief, who, with six other lodges of his nation, was encamped 
about twenty miles down the river. After passing a snowy night in the 
woods witliout any other covering tlian a blanket, tliey reached the place of 
destination on the following morning. The camp was situated in one of the 
finest sugar groves imaginable. They were received in a truly patriarchal 
style : the chief pulled off Mr. Pike's mocasins, assigned him the best place 
in the lodge, and offered dry cloaths. After being presented with tlie syrup 
of the maple to drink, the chief asked his guest which he preferred, beaver, 
swan, elk or deer, to eat. On giving preference to the first, a large kettle 
was filled by his wife ; and the soup being thickened with the flour which 
the visiting party carried with them, they had what was considered a deli- 
cious repast. Having taken this refreshment, they were asked by the chief^ 
if they would visit his people at tlie other lodges ; and, on signifying their 
assent, they went round the camp, — at each lodge of which they were pre- 
sented with something to eat ; at one a bowl of sugar, — at another, the tail 
of a beaver : — generally, with what was esteemed a delicacy by their Indian 
friends. On i-etui-ning to the lodge of the chief, they found a bed prepared 
for each of them, of good soft bear skins ; in addition to which Mr. Pike 
was furnished with a large feather pillow. An incident occurred here 
characteristick of the Indian hospitality : with the rigid moralist it will 
place the chief in the unfavourable light of an abandoned libertine ; but, the 
liberal mind will make allowance for the customs of society, and, perhaps, 
consider it as an extraordinary trait of generosity in this son of natuie. In 
the course of the day, the chief had observed a ring on the finger of Mr. 
Pike : he enquired if it was gold : he was told it was, and the gift of a lady 
with whom the wearer would feel happy to be at that time. He appeared 
absorbed in thought ; and at night said to the interpreter, that ♦« perhaps 
his father (a name by which the Indians designated Mr. Pike) felt much 
grieved, from the want of a woman : if it was so, he would furnish him with 
one." The interpreter informed him that the Americans had each but one 
wife, to whom they considered it a duty to be faithful. " He thought it 
strange, as he had three : besides, he knew some Americans at his nation, 
who had five or six wives during the course of the winter." On the inter- 
preter observing that these were men without character ; that all the great 
men had but one, the chief seemed satisfied, but said " he liked better to 
have as many as he pleased." This conversation passed between the Indian 
and interpreter without any appeal to Mr. Pike, whose sentiments on the 
subject the interpreter knew : it also saved him from the refusal of what it 
was evident the chief considered as the greatest favour he could bestow. 

The next morning Mr. Pike purchasecl two baskets of sugar ; and, after 
breakfasting on a swan, departed for the station on the river. The eagles, 
ravens, and tlie beast* of prey, had devoured a deer and two geese, which 



46 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

were killed on their march to the Indian lodges, and which they expected to 
take with them on their return. 

On the 21st, a Fols Avoine chief, called Shawonoe, and six young men 
paid a visit to Mr. Pike, and informed him that a camp of Sauteurs were on 
the river, waiting for their chiefs to come down. 

Agreeably to promise, Mr. Pike, with his interpreter and one man, paid 
a visit to the old chief Sliawonoe. They reached his camp in about two 
hours I and in their road met with a Fols Avoine chief, called Chien Blanche, 
who visited the station previous to the expedition from it to the head of the 
river. At the lodge of Shawonoe they were received with the usual Indian 
hospitality : yet very different from the polite reception they met with from 
Thomas. Charlevoix and others have noticed the beauty of this nation ; as 
it respects the males in particular, they are correct. They are all strsiight, 
well made men, about the middle size, with an expression of countenance 
that inspires confidence and charms at first sight : — their complexions are 
fair, (for Indians) their teeth good, their eyes large, and rather languishing, 
—in short, they would pass for handsome men, among those who are thought 
to be so. Forming his ideas of Indian women from those gener-ally met 
with, Mr. Pike had not credited what travellers had said respecting the fe- 
males of this nation ; in this lodge, however, were five that deserved the 
appellation of handsome women, when he arrived. In the evening there 
came in a couple, whom the interpreter said were considered the hand- 
somest in the nation. Tlie man wms about five feet eleven inches high, with 
all that pleasantness of countenance, which distinguishes the people of this 
nation. His companion, in her twenty-second year, liad dark brown eyes, 
jet hair, with an elegant neck. Her figure was genteel, and without that 
inclination to corpulency which the women generally have after they are 
married. The man appeared to attach himself particularly to Mr. Pike, 
•whom he informed, tliat his wife was the daughter of an American who 
passed through the nation some years before, and spent a week or two in it. 
Having some biscuits with him, Mr. Pike presented them to her as his 
countrywoman : this created a laugh among the others, and she was called 
the Bostonian, during his stay. 

These Indians are close in their dealings. For a little bear's oil, they 
charged at the rate of a dollar the gallon ; and even at this price wanted to 
adulterate it by the admixture of a portion of tallow. They asked ten dol- 
lars for a bear skin ; it was a veiy fine one ; indeed, it is said that the tra- 
ders sometimes give as high as sixteen dollars for the very best. These 
skins are infinitely superior here, to what are procured on the lower Missis- 
sippi. 

In the evening they were entertained with the Calumet and dog dances ; 

as also the dance of the — . Some of them struck the post, and told 

their war exploits ; but they spoke in the Menomene tongue, which the in- 
terpreter did not understand. After the dance, followed the feast of the 
dead, as it is called ; at which, each two or three are served with a vessel 
full of meat. When all were ready the old chief delivered a prayer ; after 
which the eating begins, and it is expected that every portion will be eaten 
entirely up, care being taken not to drop even a bone. What is left is care- 
fully gathered together, and put in the dish. The eating being over, they 
were treated with soup : this was followed by a prayer, or exhortation from 
the chief, which finished the ceremony. They are careful in gathering up 
the remains of this feast, which they throw into the water, lest the dogs, 
which are kept in great numbers, should get them. Burning these frag- 
ments is viewed in an equally sacrilegious light with giving them to the dogs 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 4? 

Mr, Pike, In his dog-sled, arrived at the station in the forenoon of the 
text day : after noon, Mr. Grunt arrived with De Brcche and sorae of his 
■young men ; but the young warriors of Leech lake hud returned to their 
homes. The Fols Avoine chiefh were informed of this circumstance : and 
koth Thomas, and the old Shawonoe, the one accompanied by seven, and 
the otlier by six of their men, came to the station on the 26th. In the even- 
ing they danced until ten o'clock. The old Shawonoe, and the White Dog 
of the Fols Avoine, told their exploits, which however were unintelligible to 
the interpreter. When De Breche arose, he said, " I once killed a Sioux, 
and cut off his head with such a spear as I now present to this Winebago," 
presenting one at the same time to a Winebago present, and with whom the 
Chipeways were then at war. This was considered as a great honour by 
the latter. The next morning the Cliipeway chief made a speech, and pre- 
sented his pipe to Mr. Pike, to be by him borne to the Sioux — seven string* 
of wampum were attached to it, showing his authority to be from seven 
bands of the Cipeways, to conclude a peace, or make war. He had chose» 
the former, and witli his pipe requested that they might be informed that 
*' he, and his people would encamp at the mouth of the river de Corbeau, 
the ensuing summer, where they would see tlie United States flag flying." 
As a proof of his pacific disposition the Fols Avoine chief then rose and 
said, " My nation is rendered small by its enemies ; only a remnant is left : 
—but we can boast of not having been slaves. For, in preference to having 
our women and children taken, we have killed them. Since our father 
(meaning Mr. Pike) has travelled so far, and taken such pains to prevent 
the Sioux and Chipeways from killing each other, it would be ungenerous 
in us not to listen to his words. I vrill report to tlie Sioux the pacifick prop- 
ositions of the Sauteurs, and hope the peace will be fiim and lasting." Mr. 
Pike then informed the Fols Avoine chief, that he would report his words to 
tlie Sauteurs, and should feel thankful to the two nations for having laid 
aside the tomahawk at his request. He thanked the Fols Avoine for his 
good wishes and the ' Pai'ole' he had given to the Sauteurs. Tiiis done, 
each chief was presented with a kettle of liquor to drink the others' healths 
in ; and the flag, which had been presented to De Breche, was displayed ia 
the station. The Fols Avoine then departed ; a circumstance not unpleas- 
ing to Mr. Pike, who had to find provision for them all ; and they had al- 
ready consumed what dried meat was laid in for his descending voyage. 
He was apprehensive, lest his hunters should not be able to furnish another 
supply. 

In the afternoon of the 28th, Mr. Grant and the Sauteurs took their de- 
parture, and were accompanied by Mr. Pike as far as the lodge of the 
Shawonoe, where they (ten in number) staid during the night. Here the 
Fols Avoine and the Sauteurs had a dance, and feasted on elk, sugar and 
syrup. Before their departure Mr. Pike demanded the medal and flag of 
tlie chief ; the former he delivered, but with a bad grace, and said the flag 
were in the land, when he left Lake de Sable. 
They had thunder and lightning this evening. 

In the morning they parted ; Mr. Grant and his party for Sandy lake, — 
and Mr. Pike and his, to his hunting camp ; from which he was summoned 
to the station by a letter from Mr. Dickson. The person who brought the 
letter stated that a Sioux had arrived with Mr. Dickson's man. He took a 
man with him, and reached the station after midnight ; having travelled 
along the ice covered by nearly a foot of water, and through a tempest of 
lightning and rain. The Sioux finding the Sauteurs had lell the station, re» 
turned immediutely. 



48 AMERICAN STATE IPAfERS. 

As the ice was beginning to break, all their attention was dii'ected to get* 
ting tlieir boats in order, and hunting for a supply of provisions. They caulk- 
ed the seams of their boats, and payed them with the tallow of their can- 
dles. The young Shawonoe arrived from above with their canoes and about 
one thousand pounds of furs, which he deposited in the station. The Fols 
Avoine chief, called the old Shawonoe, came and encamped near tlie station, 
and informed Mr. Pike that his nation had determined to send his son to 
Saint Louis in his place, and in whose favour he declined the voyage. 

Having got every thing on board their boats, on the evening before, the 
pai-ty embarked at seven o'clock, on the morning of the 7th of April, in high 
spirits. They passed the grand rapids, and reached Mr. Dickson's before 
the sun set, where they were saluted with three rounds. The following 
day was spent in making a chart of the St. Peter's rivei', &c. and in settling 
the affairs of the Indian department with Mr. Dickson ; to whom Mr. Pike 
confesses himself greatly indebted for his communications. They left Mr. 
Dickson and Mr. de Paulire in the morning, and in the afternoon arrived at 
Mr. Paulire's house, where they were received with great politeness by his 
brother (to whom Mr. Pike had a letter) and a Mr. Vean, who wintered 
near him. 

Thus had Mr. Pike been the harbinger of peace to the inhabitants on this 
X'iver. The traders followed him and wintered in safety, giving articles of 
comfort to the Indians in exchange for the produce of their hunting excur- 
sions. 

After leaving tliis house they discovered a bark canoe about three hun- 
dred yai-ds ahead, which they lost sight of suddenly on turning a point of 
land, without being able to discover it again when they reached the same 
part of the river. This excited their attention ; Mr. Pike stood up in his 
barge, and at last perceived it turned up in the grass of the prairie. After 
passing the place about a gun shot, tlie Indians made their appearance from 
under her, and launched their canoe into the river. They then came on,and 
when the pai-ty halted for the night at a vacant trading house, they halted 
likewise, addressing Mr. Pike with ' Say go commandant,'' or your servarft, 
captain. When the motive for their concealing^ themselves was demanded, 
they replied — tlieir canoe leaked, and they had turned her up to discharge 
the water. This could not be believed, and as their conduct was suspicious, 
they were received rather coolly : however, each of them had a piece of 
bread and a small di-am given to them. They then re-embarked and con- 
tinued down the river. 

The conduct of these men reminded Mr. Pike of a visit made by the Flls 
de Pinechon to Mr. Dickson dm-ing the winter, the principal cause of which 
was, to give Mr. Pike notice that the seven Indians who had been met at 
ttie falls of Saint Anthony, when the party ascended the river, had since de- 
clared that they would kill him, for agi-eeing to a peace between the Sioux 
and Sauteurs ; Mr. Pike for being the means of preventing them from taking 
revenge for relatives killed in August 1805, by the Suutcurs ; and Thomas, 
the Fols Avoine chief, for the support which he seemed disposed to alibrd. 
This information had not received the attention it merited as coming from 
the first chief of the village ; but the conduct of these Indians put the party 
on their guai'd. 

This day there was an appearance of returning vegetation, although in 
some places the snow rem.^ned a foot in depth. 

They reached the falls of St. Anthony on the moniing of the 10th, and 
got all their baggage and their canoes across the portage before night. 
These falls had a much more tremendous appearance now"thun when the 
party ascended the river. The ice continued floating in the river all day. 



' AMEBICAN STATE PAPERS. 49 

The next day the large boats were got over the portage, and the party de- 
scended to an island at the mouth of the St. Peter's river. 

Mr. Pike went to the chiefs, and informed them that he had something 
to communicate. The Fils de Penechon said he would provide a place ; 
and accordingly a council was assembled at the setting of tlie sun, and Mr. 
Pike was sent for to attend. Here he found a great many chiefs of the As- 
susitoncs. Gens de Feuille, and the Gens de Lac : they were waiting for 
the Yanktons ; in all about one hundied lodges. As the party crossed the 
river, tliey were saluted, in the usual manner, with a discharge of ball. The 
council house consisted of two large lodges, capable of containing 300 men. 
In tlie upper lodge were forty chiefs, and as many pipes set against the poles ; 
along with which, Mr. Pike had the pipes of the Sauteurs arranged. He 
then informed them, in a short speech, of all that had occurred between him 
and these people. Finding it difficult to make himself understood through, 
the medium of liis interpreter, he was content with stating to them his wish 
that some of their chiefs should go to St. Louis ; and to such as chose to go 
to the Prairie des Chiens, he would there explain himself more fully. They 
then all smoked out of the Sauteurs pipes but tliree, who were painted 
black, were of those who had lost their relations last summer. When he 
departed, he in\ited the Fils de Pinechon, and the son of the Killein Rouge 
to cross the river and sup with him ; where, with Mr. Dimcan, he endeav- 
oured to explain what he was unable to do in tlie couiicil ; and stated to 
them, that at the praii'ie he would give his ideas fully to the chiefs, and hop- 
ed to be able to make a more favourable report thancaptainLewis had done, 
of their treatment to him. The former of these chiefs was the son of him 
who had remained all winter near the station, and had treated the men left 
there well. They endeavoured to excuse their people from the charges 
made against them. 

After leaving the river St. Peter's, they endeavoured to find the cave 
which Carver mentions, but in vain. The interpreter, who had been many 
times up the Mississippi, knew nothing of it. 

As they were passing some lodges of Indians, a few miles below the St. 
Peter's, Mr. Pike received a particular invitation to go on shore, where he 
was kindly received, presented with sugar, &c. A di'am wjts given in re- 
turn ; and when the party were departing, the owner of the lodge lliey had 
been in, demanded a kettle of liquor. On being refused, when the party left 
the shore, tlie Indian called out, and said, he did not hke the arrangements 
which had been made, and would go to war in the summer. The interpre- 
ter was told to inform him, that if Mr. Pike returned to St. Peter's with the 
troops, he would then settle that affair with him. 

On arriving at the St. Croix, they found the Petit Corbeau with his people, 
Mr. Frazer and Mr. Woods. In a conference which they had, the Petit Cor- 
beau made many apologies for tlie disorderly conduct of his people. He 
said that liis young warriors wanted to go to war, and that he had been 
much blamed for dismissing his party last fall ; but, that he was determined 
to adhere, as far as he could, to Mr. Pike's wishes, and thought it best to 
remain where he was, and endeavoured to restrain the wanuors. He pre- 
sented his beaver robe and pipe, with a message to the general, that he was 
determined to preserve peace, and make the road clear ; also, as a remem- 
brance of his promised medal. To this a reply was made calculated to con- 
firm him in his good intentions ; and assuring him, that although not pres- 
ent, he would not be less remembered by his father than those that were. 

Here Mr. Pike learned that Mordock Cameron, contrary to the directions 
of his licence, sold liquor to the Indians, on the river St. Peter's ; also, that 
his partner was acting with equal imprudence below. They wei'e by this 
conduct the cause of much disorder, and great in^urv to the traders 
Vol. IV. Appendix G 



50 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

The trees were there beginning to put fortli their buds, and there was a 
veiy perceptible difference in climate between this place and the falls of St. 
Anthony. 

Accompanied by Messrs. Frazer and Woods, they came to a band of the 
Aile Rouge, about two o'clock. Here they received the usual salute, and 
held a council, where the chief expressed more detestation than any other 
had done, at the conduct of those Indians wliich had been met with near the 
mouth of St. Peter's. He gave assurances, in vei-y unequivocal terms, that 
he who fired on the centinel, and those who threatened to kill Mr. Pike, 
should, if he thought pi'oper, be killed. He said there were many chiefs 
above with whom he wished to speak, and hoped Mr. Pike would remaia 
one day, when all tiie Sioux would be down, and he should have the com- 
mand of 1000 men. But, perhaps,iie would not think it an honour, although 
the Britislt had flattered his nation by being proud to have them for soldiers. 
To tliis a general reply was made in wliich he was informed, that the bad 
conduct of two or three individuals wovild not obliterate the sense entertain- 
ed of the good treatment which the jiarty had received from the Sioux na- 
tion. That, in a general coimcil, Mr. Pike would more fully explain him- 
self. As for the man who fired on tiie centinel, had he been at the station, 
the Sioux should never more have been troubled with him, for he should 
have been killed on the spot. His young men did not do so, least they should 
give offence to their commander. Remaining a day with them woidd be 
of no service, and he was anxious to be witli the general below, who ex- 
pected him : the state of his provisions also dcmandtd the utmost expedi- 
tion, as his men must eat. The chief i-eplied, that as the lake Pepin was 
yet closed,if the party proceeded and encamped on the ice, it would not sup- 
ply them with provision. He would send out all his young men the next 
d;,y, and if the other bands did not then arrive, he would go with the party 
on the day following-. Mr. Pike finally agreed to spend one day here, which 
gave great satisfaction to the Indians. He was invited to different feasts ; 
at one of wliich he was entertained by an Indian whose father was created 
a chief by the Spaniards. Here he saw a man, whom the French call ' Ro- 
man Nose,' and the Indians 'the Wind that walks,' who w:.s formerly the 
second chief of the Sioux ; but being the cause of a trader's death about se- 
ten years ago, he voluntarily rcsig-ned his dignity, and has frequently re- 
quested to be given up to the whites. He was now determined to go to 
St. Lotiis and deliver himself up for execution. His long and sincere re- 
pentance, and the great confidence the nation places in liim, will, no doubt, 
be considered as sufficient reasons for pardoning the offence. This opin- 
ion, however, Mr. Pike kept from his knowledge. 

Here Mr. Pike received a letter from RoUet, the partner of Mr. Cameron, 
with a present of some brandy, coffee and sugar. Being the partner of the 
person whom it became Mr. Pike's duty to prosecute for an infraction of the 
laws of the United States respecting the trade with the Indians, payment 
was offered for the articles, though of trifling value. Two of the men, 
who were sent to put down some fishing lines, overset the canoe, and woidti 
have been drowned but for the exertions of the Indians, who rescued them, 
carried tliem into their lodges, undressed, and treated tliem with great hu- 
manity and kindness. At this place, Mr. Pike learned that the savage wh» 
had tlireatened to take his life, had actually cocked his gun for the purpose 
of shooting him from behind the hills, but was prevented by the others. 
The Indians not arriving on the day they were expected, Mr. Pike, with 
Messrs. Woods and Frazer, ascended a high hill called the Barn, front 
which they had a view of lake Pepin, the valley of the Mississippi, the Can- 
non river and the hills between whicli it flows. 

Early on the morning of the 15th Mr. Pike embarked, much to tlte aston- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 51 

isliment of the Indians, who were^then fully prepared for the coui\cil. Af- 
ter some conversation with Mr. Frazer, who remained later, they acknowl- 
edged it was according' to a previous decision, and he was not blameable ibr 
so doing. Indeed experience had taught the advantage of a rigid regard to 
truth in all intercourse with the Indians. Although the Ailc Rouge had a 
beaver cloak i.ndpipe prepared, he had, {or the present, to retain it. About 
Hine leagues below lake Pepin, they passed some hills which have the ap- 
pearance otfortifica'dons. 

They arrived at tlie prairie des Chiens on the 18th April, wliere Mr. 
Pike took up his quarters w.th Mr. Fisher. His men received a present of 
a barrel of pork from Mr. Campbell, and about twenty loaves of bread and 
some ViieuL From Mr. F. slier. 

Herf wore a number of ciiiefs, Reynards, Sioux dc Moine, &c. also some 
Winebiigocs, who had brouglit with them the murderers of some wiiite 
men, in order to deliver them up to Mr. Pike. The next day six canoes ar- 
rived from the upper part of the St. Peter's river, with the Yankton chiefs 
from tiie upper part of that river. The appearance of these Indians was 
more savage than that of any other they had met with. Notice was given 
to the Puants, that Mr. Pike had business to do with them the day follow- 
ing. A band of the Gens de Lac also arrived. 

A council Wisheld here with the chiefs of the Puunch Indians, and those 
•f the nation who had recently committed some murders were demanded. 
They requested until the day following (the 21st) to determine on the con- 
duct proper for them to pursue. 

In the afternoon a great game at cross was plaj'ed on the prairie, between 
the Sioux on one side, and the Reynai'ds on the other. It is played with a 
ball made of some h:trd substance covered with leather, and cross sticks, 
which have a rovmd part covered with net work and a handle three feet in 
length. The parties being ready, and the betts made, sometimes to the 
amount of m;iny thousand dollars, the goals are set up on the prairie, at the 
distance of halt a mile. The ball is then thrown up in the middle ; when 
each party endeavouis to drive it to the opposite goal, and round the post 
whicii is there fixed. The ball is then, again carried to the middle, and the 
contest repested, until one of the parties wins four times, which determines 
the game. It is an interesting sight, to tiius behold two or three hundred 
nakecl savages coiitending on the plain. The one who drives the ball 
round the pole is highly applauded by his companions. Sometimes he who 
catches the ball in his racket, depending on his swii'tness in running, endea- 
vours to carry it to the goal ; and, if he finds himself to closely pursued, 
hurls it forward with all his strength, to an astonishing distance, wliere both 
sides have their flanking parties, ready to receive it. They often keep the 
ball passing in the air for hours before the victory declares for either party. 
In tlie game played here, the Sioux were the victors, more from their skill 
and dexterity In throwing the ball, than their swiftness of foot. 

Mr Pike made a demand In writing of the magistrates to take depositions 
respecting the murders recently committed, and had a private conference 
with Wabasha. 

On the 21st he was sent for by the chief le Feuille, who stated the jeal- 
«usv with which his nation g'enerally regarded their chief. Although it 
might get him the displeasure of some of the Sioux, he had no hesitation in 
saying, that the Nez Corbeau was the most sensible man among them ; in 
which light he believed him to be generally viewed. After this interview 
he was sent for by the ' Red Thunder', chief of the Yanktons, the most sa- 
vage band of the Sioux : This chief was found prepared wdth the most ele- 
gant pipes and robes. He declared that ' White blood had never been shed 
iii the \-illage of the Yanktons, even when rum was permitted. That Mor. 



AMERICAN STATE, PAPERe 



dock Caraeron arrived at his viUage in the preceding autumn, when he in- 
vited him to f;at. — He gave him corn, as a bird. That Cameron informed 
him of the prohibition of liquor, but was afterwards the only person who 
sold it in the vilhige.' After holding- another council with the Puants, Mr 
Pike spent the evening with Mr. Wilmot, one of the well informed gentle- 
men of tins place. 

On the 22d another council was held with the Sioux and Puants, when 
the latter gave up their medals and flags. 



MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDEjVT OF THE UjYI- 
TED STATES, 

Communicating information of the effect of gun-boats in the pro- 
tection and defence of harbours ; of the numbers thought Jieccs- 
sary ; and of the proposed distribution of ih:m among the ports 
and harbours of the United States : in compliance with a reso- 
lution of the house of representatives of the 5th Feb. 1807. 

To the Senate and House of 

JRtpresentatives of the United States. 

IN'v.mphance with the request of the house of repi'esentatives expressed 
in ..tM- resolution of the 5th instaii., 1 proceed to g-ive such information, as 
is ivissessed, of the effect of tise g-un boats in the protection and defence of 
harb-jiirs, of the numbers thought necessary, and oY the proposed distribu- 
tion of them among the ports and harbours of the United States. 

Under present circumstances, and governed hy the intentions of the legis- 
lature, as manifested hy their annual appropriations of money for the purpo- 
sers of defence, it has been concluded to combine, 1st, land batteries, fur- 
nislied with heavy cannon and mortars, and established on all the points 
around the place favourable for preventing vessels from lying before it ; 2d, 
moveable artillery, which may be carried, as occasion may I'equire, to points 
unD'-ovided with fixed batteries ; 3d, floating batteries ; and 4th, gun boats, 
which may oppose an enemy at his entrance, and co-operate with the batte- 
ries i'or his expulsion. 

On this subject professional men were consulted as far as we had oppor- 
tuniti'. General Wilkinson, and the late General Gates, gave their opinions 
in writing, in favour of the system, as will be seen by their letters now com- 
municated. The higher officers of the navy gave the same opinions, in sep- 
arate conferences, as their presence at the seat of government ofl^ered occa- 
sions of consulting them, and no difference of opinion appeared on the sub- 
ject. Those of commodore Barron and captain Tingey, now here, are re- 
cently furnistied in writing, and transmitted herewith to the legislature. 

The efficacy of gun boats for the defence of harbours, and of other smooth 
and inclosed waters, may be estimated, in part, from that of gallies, former- 
ly much used, but less powerfid, more costly in their construction, and main- 
tenance, and requiring more men. But the gun boat itself is believed to be 
in use with every modern maritime nation, for the purposes of defence. la 
the MecUterranean on which are several small powers, whose system, like 
ours, is peace and defence, few harbours are without this article of protec- 
tion. Our own experience there of the cfllect of gun boats, for harbour ser- 
vice, is recent. Algiers is particularly known to have owed, to a great pro- 
vision of these vessels, the safety of its city, since the epoch of their cen- 



' AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 53 

struction. Before that, it had been repeatedly insulted and injured. The 
effect of gun boats, at present, in tlie neighbourhood of Gibraltar, is well 
known, and how much they were used, botli in the attack, and defence of 
tliat place, during a former war. The extensive resort to them, by the two 
greatest naval powers in the world, on an enterprize of invasion not long 
since in prospect, shews their confidence in their efficacy, for the purposes 
for which they are suited. By the northern powers of Europe, whose seas 
are particularly adapted to them, they are still more used. The remarkable 
action, between the Russian flotilla of gun boats and gallies, and a Turkish 
fleet of ships of the line and frigates, in the Liman sea (in 1788), will be 
readily recollected. The latter,commanded by their most celebrated admiral, 
were completely defeated, and several of their ships of the line destroyed. 

From the opinions given, as to the number of gun boats necessary for 
some of the principal seaports, and from a view of all the towns and ports 
from New Orleans to Maine inclusive, entitled to protection, in proportion 
to their situation and circumstances, it is concluded that, to give them a due 
measure of protection in times of war, about two hundred gun boats will be 
requisite. According to first ideas, the following would be their general 
disti-ibution ; liable to be vai-ied, on more mature examination, and as cir- 
cumstances shall vary ; that is to say. 

To the Mississippi and its neighbouring waters, forty gun boats. 

To Savannah and Charleston, and the harbours on each side, from St. 
Mary's to Curratuck, twenty-five. 

To the Chesapeake, and its waters, twenty. 

To Delaware bay and river, fifteen. 

To New-York, the Sound, and waters as far as Cape Cod, fifty. 

The flotillas assigned to these several stations might each be under the 
care of a particular commandant, and the vessels composing them would, in 
ordinary, be distributed among the harbours within the station, in proportion 
to their importance. 

Of these boats, a proper proportion would be of the larger size, such as 
those heretofore built, capable of navigating any seas, and of i-einforcing oc- 
casionally the strength even of the most distant ports, when menaced with 
danger. The residue would be confined to their own, or the neighbouring 
harbours, would be smaller, less furnished for accommodation, and conse- 
quently less costly. Of the number supposed necessary, seventy -three are 
built or building, and the hundred and twenty-seven still to be provided, 
would cost from 5 to 600,000 dollars. Having regard to the convenience of 
the ti'easury, as well as to the resources for building, it has been thought 
that the ene half of these might be built in the present year, and the other 
half the next. With the legislature, however, it wiU rest to stop where we 
are, or at any further point, when they shall be of opinion that the number 
provided shall be sufficient for the object. 

At times, when Europe, as well as the United States, shall be at peace, it 
would not be proposed that more than six or eight of these vessels sliould 
be kept afloat. When Europe is in war, treble that number might be neces- 
sary, to be distributed among those particular harbours, which foreign ^essels 
of war are in the habit of frequenting, for the purpose of preserving order 
therein. But they would be manned in ordinary, with only their comple- 
ment for navigation, relying on the seamen and militia of the port, if called 
into action, on any sudden emergency. It would be only when the United 
States should themselves be at war,that the whole number would be brought 
into active service, and would be ready, in the first moments of the war, t« 
co-operate, with other means, for covering at once the line of our seaports. 
At all times, those unemployed would be withdrawn into places not exposed 
to sudden enterprise, hauled up under sheds covered from the sun and 



54 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

■weather, and kept in preservation with little expense for repairs and main- 
tenance. 

It must he superfluous to observe, that this species of naval armament is 
proposed mereh for defensive operations ; that it can liave but little effect 
towards pro'-ecting' our commerce in the open seas, even on our own coast ; 
and still less can it become an excitement to engage in offensive maritime war, 
tow.r.ds which it would furnish no means. TH : JEFFERSON. 

February 10, 1807. 



Ext)-act of a letter from Gen. Horatio Gates to Thomas Jefferson, Esq. da- 
ted October 19, 1804. 

" DEAR SIR, 

" I am chaimed with your in.stituting- gun-boats, for I believe them to be 
the properest defence for large harbours that has been hitherto imagined ; 
these co-operating with small batteries of heavy guns upon the projecting 
heights near the winter, are mucli better, ai^.d infinitely less expensive, than 
fixed and large f )rtifications. The French, who .are the best judges of ar- 
tillery and engineering uf any nation in Europe, adopt this plan of defending 
their harbours : tlie effects of it are too well known inEngland. I know not 
if you have seen a publication wliich appeared in Paris inMay 1802, entitled 
Lettrcs d'un Observ.ifetir siir la Marine, it is well worth your perusal ; much 
useful information m;:y be derived from it for the defence of our harbours 
and our astonishingly increasing commerce ; a paltry frigate dare not then 
insult us, as has been and now is done in the harbour of New-York." 



A letter from Gen. ^avies Wilkinson to Thomas Jefferson, President of the 
United Slates, dated Washington, November 10, 1804. 

SIR, 

I regret that a variety of interruptions and engagements should have so 
long prevented my attention to the subject you did me the honour to men- 
tion to me. 

On turning it in my mind, the idea occurred to me that your proposition 
could not be better ascertained than by an ex.-smination of the system of de- 
fence heretofore adopted for oxu- towns and harbours, and a comparative view 
of its merits, wit)i those of the plan which you recommend. I have yielded 
to this suggestion, and shall be happy if the manner or matter of the inclosed 
reflections should meet your approbation, as they ai'c for you and at your 
disposal only. 

You will also find under cover an extract from the reflections of the Mar- 
quis of Santa Cruz, an author of great respectability, who wrote early in the 
la.st centui-}', from which you will perceive galUes, in other words gun-boats, 
have been long held in high estimati<jn. 

I have only to add, sir, that these observations were committed to paper 
on the day of their date, and that I have not been able to have them copied 
sooner, so inadeq'iate are my means to my duties. 

With great consideration and respect, I have the honour to be, &c. &c. 

[NOTE. — This letter was only the cover of Gen. Wilkinson's opinion, and 
therefore shews only in general terms what that was. The opinion itself 
was on a former occasion communicated to a committee of the house of 
representatives, and was read to the house for their information.] 



A letter from Covionodore S. Barron to Thomas Jefferson, President of the 
United States, dated Washington, February 8, 1807. 

SIR, 

In consequence of a conversation I had the honour to hold with you yes- 
terday, on the subject of gun-boats, I venture to state my reasons for suppo- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 55 

sing thesn the proper kind of vessels to afTord the most efTectual means of 
defence and annoyance witliin the buys and rivers ot the United States. 

The small draft of water enables them to take such positions, as to attack, 
in a measure with impunity, vessels of any size, and are enabled to approach 
or retire, as ma\- best suit "to discomtitthe enemy and protect themselves. 

My residence having been always near the Cliesapeake, enables me to 
remark more particularly on the eiiect of gun-boats opposed to ships within 
tlie capes of Virginia. 

The middle ground, the Horse Shoe, and Willoughby's Point, are proper 
positions for gun-boats to take to repel attempts to enter the bay and James 
river. Yorkspit aftbrds the same advantage in preventing an entry intcj that 
river, and near each river is a Hat which aliords a safe position to annoy, 
witliout fearing the near approach of large ships. Ten or twelve of these 
boats would probably be sufticient to compel to remove from her position 
a frigate, and so on in proportion to the size and number of the enemies 
ships. To do more than aiuioy would be difficult. With those vessels a 
great number and a long tmio would be necessary to capture a ship of war ; 
but few commanders would ieel secure while open to the attack of an ene- 
my, wiiich, however inferiour, he could not destroy. An attempt to board 
miglit be better opposed by small arms, cutlasses, &c. and in case of the ne- 
cessity of retreat, the small rivers adjacent, fk.c. would be found of easy ac- 
cess to the boats, and inaccessible to the enemy. I do suppose that twenty 
gun-boats stationed in Humpton roads and its vicinity, would be sufficient 
to repel any pred;itory attack in that quarter, and be very formidable to a 
larger force. It is impossible for me to enlarge on this subject, being inca- 
pable of estimating the force which might be brought in opposition to this 
mode of defence. I can recollect perfectly the manner and by what means 
2 small boats belonging to the state of Virginia,duringthe revolutionary war, 
often intercepted, almost under the guns of large ships, the supplies which 
were frequently attempted to be alforded them. This w;-s done by means of 
a light draught' of water, and good sailing. They were,however,cleficient of 
heavy cannon. The gun-boats building under my direction are so construct- 
ed, as to sail fast and to mount one heavy cannon, and can, if necessary, 
mount some smaller guns in the waist, so that they can be used in attack on 
privateers or ships of war, and are competent to an employment (during 
summer) on the sea-coast, where the inlets will generally admit them in case 
of tempestuous weather, or the necessity of retreat from a superiour force. 

I have the honour to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

(Signed) SAMUEL BARRON. 

The efficacy of gun-boats in the defence of coasts, ports, and harbours, 
must be obvious to every person capable of reflection ; when it is considered 
with what celerity they can generally change their position and mode of at- 
tack, extending it widely to as many different directions as their number 
consists of, or concentrating nearly to one line of direction. It hardly need 
be observed, that the very small object which a gvin-boat presents to the at- 
tacking enemy, causes it always problematical whether it may be hit by 
the most expert and experienced marksmen, while on the other hand the 
enemv attacking is generilly with large ships, mostly of the line of battle, 
and which from their magnitude may be struck by almost every shot. The 
advantages of gun-boats for the defence contemplated are numerous ; they 
cannot easily be surrounded, be the force of the enemy what it may ; conse- 
quently very few, if any, are likely to fall into the enemy's hands. Their 
capability of retiring into shoal water, thereby keeping the adversary at Idng 
gunshot di-stance, where nought but a charge of single round shot will reach, 
in which they will almost always \\s.\q the advantage, or taking their station 



56 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

behind shoals, where they cannot be pursued by the smallest class of frigates, 
or even of sloops of wai-. And in many cases they may have opportunity ot 
unnojdng an enemy when sheltered themselves by low points of land, where 
nouglit but their masts can be seen ; of course in a situation comparatively 
safe, when that of the enemy is considered. 

Such indeed is believed to be the great utility of gun-boats for defence, 
that iiotwitlistanding the giganticit power of the British navy, in its present 
state, a judicious writer in the British Naval Chronicle, after advising apian 
for raising a fleet of 150 or 200 gun-boats to assist in repelling the threaten- 
ed invasion of that country, says, " A gun-boat has this advantage over a 
battery on shore, that it can be removed at pleasure from place to place, as 
occasion may require, and a few such vessels, carrying heavy guiis, would 
make procUgious havock among the enemy's flat-bottomed boats, crowded 
with soldiers." — Respecting those particular ports and harbours in the Uni- 
ted States, which maybe defended, or essentially assisted in being defended 
by gun-boats, it is believed they would essentially assist in tlie defence of all 
the principal ports in our country. For tlie only place where gun-boats 
could be of no avail, must be such a one where the enemy under sail could 
advance, uninterrupted by shoals, rocks, or narrow channels, to the immedi- 
ate point of attack within pistol-shot of the shore. 

The above cursory observations are respectfully submitted. 

(Signed) THOMAS TINGEY. 

NavyTard, Washington, Feb. 9, 1807. 



Br THOMAS JEFFERSOJV, 

PRESIDENT OF "THE UNIfED SfAfES OF AMERICA. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

DURING the wars which, for some time, have unhappily prevailed 
among the powers of Europe, the United States of America, firm in their 
principles of peace, have endeavoured by justice, by a regular discharge of 
all their national and social duties, and by every friendly office tiieir situ.'.tion 
has admitted, to maintain with all the bellig-erents, their accustomed rela- 
tions of friendship, hospitality, and commercial intercourse. Taking no 
part in the questions which animate these powers against each other, nor 
permitting- themselves to entertain a wish but for the restoration of general 
peace, they have observed with good faith the neutrality they assumed, and 
they believe that no instance of a departure from its duties can be justly im- 
puted to them by any nation. A free use of their harbours and waters, the 
means of refitting and refreshment, of succour to their sick and suflTering, 
have, at all times, and on equal principles, been extended to all, and this too 
amidst a constant recurrence of acts of insubordination to the laws, of vio- 
lence to the persons, and of trespasses on the property of our citizens, com- 
mitted by officers of one of the belligerent parties received among us. In 
ti'uth these abuses of the laws of hospitality have, with few exceptions, be- 
come habitual to the commanders of the British armed vessels hovering on 
our coasts, and frequenting our harbours. They have been the subject of 
repeated representations to their government. Assurances have been given 
that proper orders should restrain them within the limit of tlie rights and 
of the respect due to a friendly nation ; but those orders and assurances 
have been without effect ; no instance of punishment for past wi'ongs has 
taken place. At length a deed, transcending all we have hitherto seen or 
suffei-ed, brings the publick sensibihty to a serious crisis, and our forbear- 
ance to a necessary pause. A frigate of the United States, trusting to a 



AMEftlCAN STATE PAPERS. 5? 

fttate of peace, and leaving' her hai'bour on a distant service, has been sur- 
prised and attacked by a British vessel of superiour force, one of a squadron 
then iyj>»gin our waters and covering the transaction, and has been disabled 
from s«i?vice, witii the loss of a number of men killed and wounded. 

Tliis enormity was not only without provocation or justiKable, cause, but 
was committed witli the avowed purpose of taking by force, frf n a ship of 
war of tlie United States, a part of her crew ; and that no circumstance 
might be wanting to mark its character, it had been previously ascertained 
tliat the; seamen demanded were native citizens of the United States. Hav- 
ing eHeeted his purpose, he returned to anchor with his squadron within 
our jurisdiction. Hospitality, under such circumstances, ceiises to be a du- 
ty : and a continuance of it, witli such uncontrolled abuses, would tend only, 
by multiplying injuries and irritations, to bring on a rupture between the 
two nations. This extreme resort is equally opposed to the interests of both, 
as it is to assurances of the most friendly dispositions on the part of the 
British government, in the midst of which this outrage has been committed. 
In this light the subject cannot but present itself to tliat government, and 
strengthen tlie motives to an honourable reparation of the wrong which has 
been done, and to that effectual control of its naval commanders, wliich alone 
can justify tlie government of the United States in the exercise of those hos- 
pitalities it is now constrained to discontinue. 

In consideration of these circumstances, and of the right of every nation 
to regulate its own police, to provide for its peace and for the safety of its 
citizens, and consequently to refuse the admission of armed vessels into its 
harbours or waters, either in such numbers or of such descriptions as are 
inconsistent witli these, or with the maintenance of the authority of the laws, 
I have thought proper in pursuance of the authorities specially given by law 
to issue this my PROCLAMATION, hereby requiring all armed vessels 
bearing commissions under the government of Great-Britain, now within 
the harbours or waters of the United States, immediately and without any 
delay to depart from the same, and interdicting the entrance of all tlie said 
harbours and waters to the said armed vessels, and to all otliers bearing 
commissions under the authority of the British government. 

And if the said vessels, or any of them, shall fail to depart as aforesaid, 
or if they or any oti'.ers, so interdicted, shall hereafter enter the harbotirs or 
•Witers iforesitid, I do in that case forbid all intercourse with them or any 
of them, their officers or crews, and do prohibit all supplies and aid from 
being furnished to them or any of them. 

And I do declare and maljl known, that if any person from, or within the 
jurisdictional limits of tiie United States shall afibrd any aid to any such ves- 
sel, contrary to the prohibition contained in the Pro( lamation, either in re- 
pairing any stich vessel, or in furnishing her, her officers or crew, witli sup- 
plies of any kind, or in any manner whatsoever, or if any pilot shall assist in 
navigating any of the said ai'mcd vessels, unless it be for the purpose of carry- 
ing them in the first instance beyond the limits and jurisdiction of the United 
St.aes, or unless it be in the case of a vessel forced by distress, or charged 
with public dispatches as hereinafter provided for, such person or persons 
shall on conviction, suffer all the pains and penalties by the laws provided for 
such oJfences. 

Aiid I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office civil or mil- 
itan' within or under the authority of the United States, and all others, cit- 
izens or inhabitants thereof, or being within the san^e, with vigilance and 
promptitude to exert their respective authorities, and to be aiding and assis- 
ting to tlie c:i.rrving this Proclamation, and cverv part thereof into full of 
ftct. 

Vol. IV. A])pendiY. H 



58 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

Provided nevertheless that if any such vessel shall be forced into the haj- 
bours or waters of tlie United States by distress, by the dangers of the sea, 
or by the pursuit of an enemy, or shall enter them charged with dispatches 
or business from their government, or shall be a publick packet for the con- 
veyance of letters and dispatches, the commanding officer immediately re- 
porting his vessel to the collector of the district, stating the objector causes 
of entering the said harbours or waters, and conforming himself to the reg- 
ulations in that case prescribed under the authority of the Uws, shall be al- 
lowed the benefit of such regulations respecting repairs, supplies, stay, in- 
tercourse and departure as shall be permitted under the same authority. 

In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be 
affixed to these presents, and signed the same. 

Given at the city of Washington the second day of July in the year of 
[L.S.] our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven,and of the sovereign- 
ty and independence of the United States the thirty-first. 

TH: JEFFERSON. 

By the President^ 

James Madison, Secretary of State. 



nOCUMEJVTS 

Accomfianying a Message from the President of the United States^ 
December 2, 1806. 

(COPY.) 

Natchitoches, August 5, 180S. 
SIR, 

IT has been reported to me for several days past, that a large body of the 
troops of the king of Spain had assembled near the Sabine, and were about 
to cross that river, and I am just informed tliat this body has crossed the 
said river and taken post within the territory of the United States. It has 
therefore become my duty to address you on this subject — To demand an 
explicit avowal of the object of this movement — To insist on this body of 
troops being immediately withdrawn ; and to warn you of the consequence."? 
which may result from its continuance withinjjfche territory of the United 
States. 

It is well known, that the government of the United States and the king 
of Spain are at this moment negociating on the subject of the boundaries of 
Louisiana; and there cannot be a doubt, but an amicable adjustment of ex- 
isting differences will soon take place. 

The reinforcements which have lately reached this post are only intended 
as a security to the territoi-y actually surrendered to us, and wliich we con- 
sider as extending to the Sabine. There is no disposition on the part of the 
United States to commit hostilities on the troops or possessions, of Spain: 
But we cannot suffer aggressions on our territorj' ; and sliould you persist 
in making them, you will be justly chargeable with all the consequences 
which such conduct is calculated to produce. I have only to add, that, if 
you should think proper to remove the Spanish troops to tlie west side of 
the Sabine and continue them there, no attempt will be made on the part of 
the United States to interrupt that friendship and liarmony which ought to 
subsist between neighbouring nations : But,if you should attempt to continue 
these troops within the territory of tbe-United States, after this explicit and 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 



59 



friendly warning, it will be my duty to consider you as ai\ invader of our ter- 
ritory, and to act accordingly. 

This letter will be handed to you by major Moses Porter, ot the artil- 
lerists of the United States, who will wait a reasonable time for your reply, 
which, if convenient, I hope may be accompanied by an English or FrencU 
translation, to enable me to ascertain its contents with gi-eater certainty. 
The major will be attended by one non-commissioned officer, and one pri- 
vate soldier of the army of the United States. 

I avail myself of this opportunity of tendering my best wishes tor your 
health, happiness, and honour, and am, sir. 

With respectful consideration. 

Your obedient servant, 

T. H. GUSHING, 
Colonel, commanding a detachment of the 
arviy of the United Staten. 
To Colonel Errara, — Or officer com- 
manding the troops of the king of 
Spain on the east side of the Sabine. 



Plantation of Mr. Prudhamme, 6th August, 1806. 

SIR, 

WITH all possible respect, I answer your excellency's letter, which was 
delivered to me at this place by Moses Porter, major of artillery of the 
United States. 

It is true that I have crossed the Sabine river, with a detachment of 
troops belonging to the king, with orders from the captain-general, (by 
whom I am governed) to keep this territory from all hostile attempts, as 
belonging from time immemorial to the king, and which is a dependence of 
the province of Texas. The inhabitauts still acknowledge obedience to our 
government, notwithstanding the violence committed on a small detachment 
of our troops by those of the United States. 

From this moment I hold myself responsible to the real letter of the or- 
ders that govern me, which are, by no pretext whatsoever to interrupt or 
break the good intelligence which subsists between his majesty and the 
United States ; but I cannot permit, without violating my duty, any usurpa- 
tion upon the land he possesses. If your excellency makes any infringe- 
ment, you alone will be answerable to the two courts, and may interrupt the 
amicable convention, perhaps now on foot, but of which I have no knowl- 
edge. 

I did not send a translation of this in French or English, not having any 
person capable of translating, with purity, a thing of so serious a nature. 

I felicitate myself of this opportunity in offering my best services. 

Your very humble servant, 
(Signed) SIMON DE HERRERA. 

Senor Don Thomas Gushing, , 

commander of a detachment of 

the army of the United States. 



Natchitoches, August 26th, 1806. 
SIR, 
ON my arrival at this post, I learned with certainty that a considerable 
Spanish force had crossed the Sabine, and advanced within the territory 



60 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

claimed by the United States. It was iioped, sir, that pending the negocia- 
tions between our respective governments, for an amicable adjustment of 
the limits of Louisiana, that no additional settlements would be formed, oi* 
nev/ military positions assumed by either power within the disputed terri- 
tory ; a policy which a conciliatory disposition would have suggested, and 
justice SMUctioneil ; but since a contrary conduct has been observed on the 
part of certain officers of his catholic majesty, they alone will be answer- 
able for the consequences which may ensue. 

Tile above proceeding, sir, is not the only evidence of an unfriendly dispo- 
sition wlilch certain officers of Spain have aftorded ; I have to complain of 
the outrage lately committed by a detachment of Spanish troops acting un- 
der \ our instructions, toward Mr. Freeman and his party, wlio were ascend- 
ing tlie Red river, under the orders of the President of the United States, 
Mr. Freeman and his associates were navigating waters which pass 
through the territory ceded by France to tlie United States ; they were na- 
vigating a river on which the French had formerly made settlements far be- 
yond the pl.ice wiiere they were arrested ; a fact of great nv)toriety, and in 
support of winch, the testimony of several citizens residing at and near the 
post of Natchitoches can be adduced. 

But nevertiieless, Mr. Freeman and his party were assailed by a battalion 
of Spanish troops, and commanded to return ; a proceeding the more ex- 
ceptionable, since tlie objects of Mr. Freeman, were merely scientifick, 
having in view nothing hostile to Spain ; objects which were long since 
cemmunicated by me to his excellency the marquis of Cassa Caho, and 
which throiigij liim, I presume, must liave been made known to the govern- 
our general of the province of Texas. 

This detachment of Spanish troops, whose movements I learn are direct- 
ed by your excellency, did, on their march, commit another outrage towards 
the United States, and of which it is my duty to ask an explanation. In 
the Caddo nation of Indians the flag of the United States was displayed, 
and commanded from the chief, and warriors, ail tlie respect and veneration, 
to which it is entitled. But your troops are stated to have cut down the 
staff on wliich the pavillion waved, and to have menaced the peace and safe- 
ty of the Caddos, should they continue their respect fur the American gov- 
ernment, or their friendly intercourse with the citi..ens of the United States, 

I experience the more difficulty, in accounting for this transaction, since 
It cannot be unknown to }oar excellency, that while Louisiana appertained 
to France, the Caddo Indians were under the protection of the French 
government, and that a French garrison was actually established in one of 
their villages ; hence it follows, sir, that the cession of Louisiana to the 
United States, " with the same extent which it had when France possessed 
it," is sufficient authorit)' for the dispLiy of the American flag in the Caddo 
village, and that the disrespect wliich that flag has experienced, subjects 
your excellency to a serious responsibility. 

I am unwilling to render this communication unnecessarily lengthy, but 
I must complain of another outrage, which has been committed under the 
eyes of j'our excellency. Three citizens of the U™ted States, of the 
= names of'Shaw, Irvine, and Brewster, were seized by Spanish soldiers, 
xyithin twelve miles of Natchitoches, and have been sent prisoners to Na- 
cogdoches. I cannot suppose that this proceeding is unknown to your excel- 
cellency, and I should be wanting in duty, did I not awail myself of the 
present occasion, to demand infoi'malion as to the cause of their arrest and 
detention. There is still another subject on whicli I must address your ex- 
cellency. It is reported to me, that several slaves, the property of citizens 
.^f the United States, have lately escaped from the service of their masters, 
if)A sought and found nn asyluin at Nacogdoches : I liave seen the f orres- 



AMERICAN STATE rAPEUS. 61 

pondence between your excellency and judge Turaer upon this subject, and 
I learn your determination to await the orders of the g-overnour gc ncral of 
the province of Texas ; I will forbear, therefore, for the present, to jiress 
their immediate delivery to the order of their masters, but I must urge 
your excellency to discourage for the future,the escape of slaves fr^m tliis to 
your territory, and I request that such as may repair to the bounds ot your 
command, may be foilhwlth returned. Your excellency will readily per- 
ceive the cause of my solicitude on this subject. If fugitive slaves are to 
receive the protection of the Spanish authorities, the property of the citi- 
zens of this territory is indeed insecure, and a good understanding between 
our two governments ought not, and cannot be preserved. During the last 
year I had a correspondence with his excellency the marquis of Cassa Calvo, 
(who was then at New Orleans) relative to some negroes who had escaped 
to Nacogdoches, and in consequence of the interference of the marquis,! am 
led to believe that they were i-estored ; I was since officially informed by 
the marquis, that his conduct on the occasion was approved by his catholic 
majesty, and I consequently concluded that the mischief was at an end. It 
cannot, I presume, be unknown to the officers of his catholic majesty, that 
ministers from the United States have repaired to Spain, for the avowed 
purpose of amicably adjusting the existing differences : I sliould greatly re- 
gret, therefore, if any occurrences in this quarter should prevent that ami- 
cable arrangement, which the interest of each nation would advise. But if 
the officers of Spain should persist in their acts of aggression, your excel- 
lency will readily anticipate the consequences ; and if the sword must be 
di-awn, let those be responsible, whose unfriendly conduct has rendered it 
indispensible. 

Col. Henry Hopkins, the adjutant general of the militia of this territory, 
wll have the honour to deliver to jour excellency this communication, and 
to await your answer. 

I tender to your excellency the assurances of my great respect, and high 
consideration. 

(Signed) AVm. C. C. CLAIBORNE. 

His excellency Governour Herrera, ^ 

Or the officer commanding a detach- 
ment of Spanish troops at or near 
the settlement of Bayou PieiTe. 



(COPY.) 
SIR, 

THE troops of the king, my master, which I have the honour to com- 
mand, on this side of the Sabine, have no other object but to maintain good 
harmony between the United States and his majesty, and to preserve invio- 
late the territory which belongs to him. 

Major Freeman was navigating the Red river on that part of the territory 
which never belonged to the pro\'ince of Louisiana, now appertiuning to 
the United States, for which reason he was notified by the commandant of 
the troops to retrogade as far back as the country that did belong to them. 
I agi'ee with your excellency, that all the territory which his catholic ma- 
jesty ceded to France, belongs to the United States, but the Caddo Indians 
are not on that land, but at a great distance from it, and live now on the 
territory of Spain ; for which reason it was notified to them, that if they 
choose to live under the government of the United States, they must go to 
nhe territory under their jurisdiction ; but if they desired to remain where 



62 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

they were, it was required of them to take down the American flag. They 
consented not to abandon their village ; but being more tardy than was con- 
ceived they might liave been, in pulling down the flag, they (the Spaniards) 
were obliged to do it by force. 

The reason why I detained the three citizens of the United States was, 
because they were found, and on difterent days, observing, our positions 
and movements, and three several times that I questioned them, I observed 
they did n;)t agree, as to their motives of visiting the place, but finally 
one of them told me they wished to establish themselves under the govern- 
ment of the king at St. Antoine, which determined me to send them to the 
governour of the province with an escort, as well on accovmt of the distance 
of ti.e road, as for having rendered themselves suspected persons. The de- 
tention of tiie runaway negroes of Louisiana at Nacogdoches, is an aflTair in 
suspense before the captain general of this province, who likewise will have 
knowledge of the motives why those were sent back whom your excellen- 
cy cited. And for the better security of the matter, I sliall send your letter 
which I received by colonel Hopkins, and who likewise will be the bearer 
of this. 

The troops of the king, neither from disposition nor charactei', will ever 
co-operate directly or indirectly in encouraging the emigration of negro 
slaves. For my part I assui'e your excellency that those I command will 
commit no hostility, which can frustrate the negociations now pending be- 
tween our courts ; but if I am provoked to it I shall endeavour to preserve 
the lionour of my troops, and to fulfil the obligations with which I am invest- 
ed, a duty which my character and that of my subalterns demands. 

I avail myself of this opportunity to oflfer your excellency my respect andl 
consideration. 

(Signed) SIMON M. HERRERA. 

Spaiiisk Camp, August 28, 1806. 

His Excellency governour Wm. C. C. Claiborne. 



(COPY.) 

Natchitoches, Aug. 31, 1806. 
SIR, 

BY the return of colonel Hopkins I am honoured with your excellency's 
reply to my communication of the 26th instant. 

I continue of opinion that the advance of Spanish troops within a territory 
claimed by the United States, is evidence of an unfriendly disposition ; nor 
can I perceive any thing in your excellency's letter, which can justify or ex- 
tenuate the offensive conduct observed towards Mr. Freeman and his asso- 
ciates, or the indignity offered in the Caddo nation to the American flag. 

You have not denied, sir, that the French, when in possession of Louisi- 
ana, had established a gain-ison on Red river, far beyond the place where 
Mr. Freeman and his associates were arrested on their voyage, or that the 
Caddo Indians were formerly considered as under the protection of the 
French government. The silence of your excellency on these points, pro- 
ceeds probably from a knowledge on your part of the correctness of my 
statements. I shall, however, touch no further on these transactions in my 
correspondence with your excellency, but will hasten to lay the same before 
the President of the United States, who will know what measures to direct 
when wrongs are offered to the American nation. I cannot, however, re- 
frain from expressing my displeasure at the arrest and detention, under your 
excellency's orders, of three citizens of the United States, Shaw, Irvine, 
and Brewster ; they are charged with no offence that would warrant 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 63 

Imprisonmei^t and transportation to St. Antonio. A state of actual war be- 
tween our two nations could not have justified your conduct towards tliose 
unofl'ending citizens. I can venture to assert that the suspicions of youi ex- 
cellency, as to the objects of Shaw, Irvine, and Brewster, are unfour.ded ; 
they certainly would have no particular inducements to notice the positions 
or movements of your troops. The fact, I believe, is, that these men were 
desirous of gi-atifying their curiosity, and wished your excellency's piissports 
to visit St- Antonio. Under this impression, and from the circumstance that 
they were within the territory claimed by the United States, I deem it my 
duty to demand their release and speedy restoration to their country. It 
cannot be supposed that the distance to St. Antonio, or their personal con- 
venience, occasioned the escort which attended them ; they appear, on the 
conti'ary, to have been treated by your excellency as state prisoners, and as 
such, I have information of their having passed througli Nacogdoches under 
a strong guard. Yoiu* excellency will recollect, that the subjects of liis ca- 
tholic majesty are daily in the habit of visiting the post of Natchitoches, 
and cannot but observe the position and movements of the American trcops ; 
they, however, are permitted to pass without molestation. A friendly and 
innocent intercourse between the citizens of the one and the subjects of the 
other power, has not as yet been interdicted by this government. I am per- 
suaded therefore, that your excellency will see that the arrest of Shaw, Ir- 
vine, and Brewster, was premature, and that their detention is highly im- 
proper. I have no personal knowledge of these three men ; they are Amer- 
ican citizens, and of course under the protection of the government of the 
United States. In the name of that government therefore, I do now demand 
their release, and that they be restored to their country as soon as possible. 

Pending the negociations between our respective governments, I could 
wish that hostilities should not commence in tliis quarter ; but if provoked 
to it by the unjust aggressions of the forces of his catholick majesty, the 
troops of the United States will endeavour to maintain their own and their 
country's honour. 

Lieut. Duforest, of the American army, is charged with the delivery of 
this letter to your excellency, and to bear me such answer as you may think 
proper to return. 

I renew to your excellency the assurances of my respectful consideration. " 

(Signed) Wm. C. C. CLAIBORNE. 

His excellency Govemour Herrera. 



Extract of a letter from General Wilkinson to the Secretary of 

warj dated 

Head garters, Natchitoches, October 4, 1806. 

" I YESTERDAY morning received govemour Cordero's answer to my 
address of the 24th idtimo, copies of which you have under cover. 

" The varied style of this letter, when contrasted with those of governour 
Herrara to colonel Gushing and governour Claiborne, combined to the cir- 
cumstance of the Spanish troops having re-crossed the Sabine, to a man, 
has induced me, on the ground of economy, and expediency also, to dis- 
charge the militia who had reached this place, and to countermand those 
under march ; excepting about 100 dragoons and mounted infantry, whom I 
shall retain in service (until I am apprized of the determination of the cap- 
tain general Saleeda) to watch the movements of our neighbours." 



6i AMERICAN STATE PAPEUS. 



Jlead garters of the army of the United States, 

Natchitoches, Sept. 24, 1806. 
SIR, 

After the recent communications which have passed between his ex- 
cellency g'overnour HeiTitra, colonel Cashing, and governour Claiborne, and 
his reiterated I'cpulsion of their reasonable and rightful demands ; I will 
confess to j'our excellency, that naught but the very high and solemn obli- 
gations, whicii I owe to humanity, could vanquish the repugnance with 
winch I now have the honour to address 3^ou ; on a topick profoundly inter- 
esting to our i-espective nations, inasmuch as it may involve a question of 
peace or w;tr. 

The differences of opinion which have prevailed concerning the contested 
limits of Louisiana having been submitted to amicable negociations by our re- 
spective sovereigns ; tlie appeal to rational enquiry is an admission of the 
dubiosity of the right, and therefore, should prevent any change of military 
positions, posterior to the delivery of the provinces of Louisiana to the Uni- 
ted States. 

The government of the American union, founded in right,"^and conducted 
by reason, has been instructed by the history of other times how to value the 
blessings of peace, and being unambitious of conquest or military fame, is 
desirous to preserve a f;\ir and frieudly understanding with all the powers 
of the earth. 

Thus circumstanced, and under daily expectations of a favourable issue to 
the depending negociations, it would mark a sanguinaiy spirit, and be a most 
ungracious, and unwarrantable deed, were the military officers of either 
government by an act of precipitancy, to frustrate the benevolent views of 
paclfick discussion ; and make way for the commencement of hostilities, 
whose final issue may baffle human foresight, but whose pi'obable conse- 
quences wovdd be scenes of revolution and bloodshed, offensive to humanity, 
and subversive of tlie general policy of nations. 

In this state of things, I am ready to pledge myself, that pending the ne- 
gociations of the two countries, nothing shall be attempted against his ca- 
tholick majesty's subjects, or territories, by the troops under my command; 
unless his officers should attempt, as thcj- liave already done, to innovate 
tlie "statagus" at the surrender of the province, by occupying new ground, 
or erecting new posts, or unless they should trespass on the rights of the 
citizens, or violate the sovereignty of these states ; the former conduct 
will compel counter movements and occupancies, and the latter will 
not only ]ustifv recrimination, but will infallibly excite it, and thus hostilities 
may be "produced, notwithstanding the peaceful dispositions of the high 
powers, to whom we are respectively accountable. 

Wlien tlie troops of the United States took possession of this post, the 
Sjianish commandant from whom it w;ts received, did not define the limits 
of his jurisdiction ; yet it was notorious that Nacogdoches formed the bar- 
rier post of the approximate province of Texas It was known also, that 
controversies liad existed between France and Spain, respecting the western 
limits of Louisiana, and we have been assured by Monsieur Laussett, the 
French commissioner, who delivered the province to the United States, 
that the pretensions of France went as far west as the Resdel Norte ; but 
we were not informed that any line of demai-kation had ever been traced to 
pari i1 ion these provinces. 

Whether such a line of territorial jurisdiction had ever been established 
or not, between the provinces of Louisiana and Texas, one had been render- 
ed indis|iensible, by the sale of the former to tlie United States ; for the ad- 
ministration of justice, tlie security of property, and the prevention of hos- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 65 

ilk collisions ; and these slates, with pretensions far more extensive, adop- 
ted the Sabine river as the most obvious, most convenient, most natural, 
and best exceptionable, temporary boundaries. 

I am therefore, sir, conniuuided by the President of tlie United States, to 
inform you, "that the actual quiet possession of the country by the United 
States, east of the river Sabine ought and will be considered as fully v.itlnn 
the limits of the country surrendered to the United States, on talcing- posses- 
sion of this place, and tlicrefore any attempt on the part of his tatholic majes- 
ty's officers to distui-b the existing state of things,by endeavoui-ingto occupy 
any new post east of the Sabine, or westward or northward of the former 
boundaries, of what has been called West Florida, must be considered by 
the government of the United States, as an actual invasion of tlieir territorial 
rights, and will be resisted accordingly." And while I submit these coixi- 
mands to your grave consideration, in the hope they may have due weight, 
it becomes my dut}- to demand from you the withdrawal of the troops of 
Spain to the west of the Sabine. 

My sense of the high respect which is due from one old soldier to anotlier, 
prohibits the idea of menace, but as our honour forbids stratagem or de- 
ception, before our swords have been drawn, I owe it to my own fame, 
and to the national character, to warn you, that the ultimate decision of the 
competent authority has been taken, tliat my orders are absolute and my de- 
termination fix d to assert, and (under God) to sustain, the jurisdiction of 
the United States to the Sabine river, against any force which may be oppo- 
sed to me. 

Retire then sir, I conjure you, the troops of your command from the 
ground in controversy, and spare the effusion of human blood, without pre- 
judicing your own honour, or the substantial interest of his majesty, your 
royal master. 

Colonel Thomas H. Gushing, chief des etats major of the army of theUni- 
ted States, has my orders to deliver this letter to you, and to wait a reason- 
able time for your answer. 

I pray God to keep your excellency in his holy protection for many years, 
and have the honour to be, 

Youi- most obedient 

And humble servant, 

JAMES WILKINSON. 
His Excellency Governour Cordero, 

chief in command of the troops of 

Spain, on the western frontier of 

the province of Texas. 



Nacogdoches cmnp, Sept. 29, 1806; 
Excellent Sir, 

BY the hands of colonel Thomas Cushing,chief of the general staff of the 
United States army, I have had the honour yesterday to receive you excel- 
lency's letter, written from your head quarters, at Natchltoclies. 

Being authorised to enter into a discussion of the serious and interesting 
matters on which you treat,I hope your excellency will excuse me for trans- 
mitting your letter witli the utmost celerity to the hands of the captain gen- 
eral brigadier Nimesio Saleedo, under whose orders I act ; and I shall trans- 
mit to your excellency his answer, in the same manner, by the hands of an 
officer of my staff. '*•" 

Vol. IV. Appendix. T 



6^ AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

While thus acting', I have the honour to offer to your fexcellfeticy my re* 
spects and consideration, praying God to keep you alive many years. 
I am, sir, your excellency's m'jst humble and obedient servant, 

(Signed) ANTONIO CORt>ERO. 

His excellency Don James Wil- 
kinson, governour of Louisiana, 
and general of the army of theUni- 
ted States of America. 



Extract of a letter from General Wilkinson to the aecfetttry of 

•warj dated 

" Natchitoches, October 
2lst, 1806. ,» 

" Accidental causes having detained the bearer, I am enabled to transmit 
you under cover the answer of governourCordero,to my note of the 4th inst. 
of which a copy lias been forwarded, and a duplicate will accompany this. 

" I send you a literal copy of the governour's letter, in place of a very im- 
perfect translation, which however serves to remove all doubts of the contin- 
ued pretensions of the Spaniards to extend thea- jurisdiction to the Avoya 
Fonda, within seven miles of this post, and confirms my determination to ad- 
vance to the Sabine, for which point my arrangements being completed, I 
shall march to morrow morning ; but agreeably to the idea expressed in a for- 
mer letter, I intend to propose to the Spanish commander the withdrawal 
of our troops, respectively,to the points of occupancy at the period of the sur- 
render of the province to the United States, and in case of his refusal I ahsJl 
be governed by circumstances. 

" I am informed the captain general Saleedo,was to be at Nacogdoches on 
the 22nd proximo." 

Head quarters, Natchitoches, 
October 4:th, 1806. 
SIR, 

I HAVE had the honoui-to receive your excellency's letter of the 29th ul- 
timo, by colonel Cusliing, and shall expect the answer of his excellency the 
captain general Saleedo, with solicitude. 

In the mean time I shall move forward towards the Sabine, and to prevent 
the misinterpretation of my motives, I consider it proper to apprize you, 
that this movement is made solely to demonstrate tlie pretensions of the Uni- 
ted States to the territory east of that river, and with no hostile intentions 
against the troops or realms of Spain. 

This step has been rendered essential to the honour of the United States, 
by the late movements and occupancies of his excellency governour Herrara 
and it is also justified by the position wiiich the troops of youi* excellency's 
command have recently taken immediately on the western bank of the Sa- 
bine, sixty miles advanced of Nacogdoches. 

I avail myself of a casual, but certain convej'ance to transmit this letter td 
your excellency, and I pray God to keep you in his holy protection for many 
years. 

(Signed) JAMES WILKINSON. 

His excellency Antoiiio Cordero, 

commander in chief of the 

troops of Spain on the east- 
ern frontier of the province 

of Texas. 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 67 



MESSAGE 

Of the President of the United States, containing the Coimnuni- 
cation to both Houses of Coj^gress-, at the commencement of the 
first session of Tenth Congress, October 27, 1807, 

7'o the Senate and House of 

Mepresentatives of the United States. ^ 

CIRCUMST ANCESjfellow citizens,which seriously threatened the peace 
of our country, have made it a duty to convene you at an earlier period than 
usual. The love of peace so much cherished in the bosom of our citizens, which 
has so long' guided the proceedings of their councils, and inducedforbearance 
under so many wrongs,may not ensure our continuance in the quiet pursuits of 
industry. The many injuries and depredations committed on our commerce & 
navigation upon the high seas, for years past,the successive innovations on those 
principles of publickla\v,whlch have been established by the reason and usage 
of nations, as the rule oftheir intercourse, and the umpire and security of their 
rights and peace, and all the circumstances which induced the extraordinary 
mission to London, are already known to you. The instructions given to our 
ministers were framed in the sincerest spirit of amity and moderation. — 
They accordingly proceeded, in conformity therewith, to propose arrange- 
ments which might embrace and settle all tlie points in difference be- 
tween us ; which might bring us to a mutual understanding on our neutr4 
and national rights, and provide for a commercial intercourse on conditions 
of some equality. After long and fruitless endeavoiu's to effect the purposes 
of their mission, and to obtain arrangements within the limits of their 
instructions, they concluded to sign such as could be obtained and to send 
them for consideration, candidly declaring to the other negociators at 
the same time, that they were acting against their instructions, and 
that their government therefore could not be pledged for ratification. 
Some of the articles proposed might have been admitted on a principle 
of compromise, but others were too highly disadvar.tageous,and no sufficient 
pi'ovision was made again.st the principal source of the irritations and collisions 
which were constantly endangering the peace of the two nations. The ques- 
tion therefore, whether a treaty should be accepted in that form, could have 
admitted but of one decision,even had no declarations of the other party im- 
paired our confidence in it. Still anxious not to close the door against friend - 
ly adjustments, new modifications were framed, and further concessions au- 
thorised, than could before have been supposed necessary, and our ministers 
were instructed to resume their negociations on these grounds. 

On this new reference to amicable discussion, we were reposing in confi- 
dence, when on the 22d day of June last, by a formal order from a British 
admiral, the frigate Cliesapeake, leaving her port for a distant service, was 
attacked by one of those vessels which had been lying in our harbours under 
the indulgences of hospitality, was disabled from proceeding, had several of 
her crew killed,and four taken away. — On this outrage no commentaries are 
necessary. Its character has been pronounced by the indignant voice of our 
citizens with an emphasis and unanimity never exceeded. I immediately 
by proclamation interdicted. our harbours and waters to all British armed 
vessels,forbade intercourse with tliem, and, uncertain how far hostilities were 
intended, ^d th^ town of Norfolk )}eing indeed threatened with immediate at- 



68 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

tack, a sufficient force was ordered for the protection of that place, and such 
other preparations commenced and pursued as the prospect rendered proper. 
An armed vessel of the United States was dispatched with instructions to 
our ministers at London to call on thai g-overnment for tiie satisf iction and 
security required by the outrage. A very short interval ous^lit now to bring 
the answer, which shall be communicated to you as soon as received : then 
also, or as soon after as the pubiick interests shall be found to admit, the un- 
ratified treaty and proceeding's relative to it, shall be made known to you. 
The agg-ression thus bejj-un,has been continued on the part of tiieBritish com- 
manders by remaining within our waters in defiance of the authority of the 
country, by habitual violations of its juri.;diction, and at length bv putting to 
death one of the persons whom they had forcibly taken from on bo.ird tlieChes- 
apeake. These aggravations necessarih' lead to the policy either of never ad- 
mitting an armed vessel into our harbours, or of maintaining in every harbour 
such an .armed force as may costrain obedience to the laws, and protect the 
lives and property of our citizens against their armed guests ; but the expense 
of such a standing force, and its inconsistency with our principles, dispense 
with those courtesies which would necessarily call for it, and leave us equally 
free to exchiut- the navy as we are the army of a foreign power,from enter- 
ing our limits. 

To former violations of maritime rights anotlieris now addedof very exten- 
sive effect. The government of that nation has issued an order interdicting ali 
trade by neutrals be.tween ports not in amity witii them, and being now at 
war with nearly every nation on the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, our 
vessels are required to sacrifice their cargoes at the frst port they toucli, or 
to return home without the benefit of going to any other market. Under 
this new law of the ocean, i.ur trsule on the M( ditcrrane:ni has been swept 
aw.iy by seizures and condcmn.itions, and that in other seas is threatned with 
the same fate. 

Our differences with Spain remain still unsettled, no measure having been 
taken on her part, since my last communications to Congress, to bring them 
to a close. — But under a st.'te of things, wliichma}' favour reconsideration, 
they h;ive been recently pressed, and an expectation is entertained that they 
may now soon be brought to an issue of some sort. With their subjects on 
Our borders, no new collisions have taken place, nor seem immediately to 
be apprehended. To our former grounds of complaint has been added a veiy 
serious one, as \"ou will see by the decree, a copy of which is now communi- 
cated. Whether this decree, which professes to be conformable to that of 
the French government of Nov. 21, 1806, heretofore communicated to Con- 
gress, will also be conformed to that in its construction and ai^plication in re- 
lation to the United States, had not been ascertained at the date of our last 
communications. Tlicse, however, gave reason to expect such a conformity. 

With the other nations of Europe, our harmony has been uninterrupted, 
and commerce and friendly intercourse have been maintained on their usual 
footing . ' 

Our peace with the several states on the coast of Barbary appears as firm aa 
at any former period, and as likely to continue as that of any other nation. 

Among our Indian neighbours, in the north-western quarter, some fermen- 
tation was observed soon after the late occurrences threatning the continuance 
of our peace. Messages were said to be interchanged, and tokens to be pas- 
sing, which usually denote a state of restlessness among them, and the char- 
acter of the agitatorij pointed to the sources of excitement ; — measures were 
immediately taken for providing against that danger ; instructions were 
given to require explanations, and, with assm-ances of our continued friendship, 
to admonish the tribes to remain quiet at home, taking no part in quarrels 
riot belonging to thena. As far as we are yet informed, the tribes in our viqit^- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 69 

ity, who are most advanced in tlie pursuits of industry,are sincerely disposed 
to adliere to their friendship with us, and to their peace witii all others; 
while those, more remote, do not present appearances sufficiently quiet to 
justify the intermission of military precaution on our part. 

The great tribes on our south-western quarter,much advanced beyond the 
others in agriculture and houshold arts, appear tranquil and identifying their 
views with ours in proportion to their advancement. With the whole of 
these people in every quarter,! shall continue to inculcate peace and friendship 
with all their neighbours, and perseverance in those occupations and pur- 
suits which will best promote their own well being. 

The appropriation of the last session for the defence of oui- seaport towns 
and harbours, were made under expectation that a continuance of our peace 
would permit us to proceed in that work according to our convenience. It 
has been thought better to apply the sum then given towards the defence of 
New-York, Charleston, and New-Orleans chiefly, as most open and most 
likely first to need protection, and to leave places less immediately in danger 
to the provisions of the present session. 

The gun-boats already provided have.on a like principle,been chiefly assigned 
to New- York, New-Orleans and theChe.sapeakc. Whether oiu* moveable force 
on the water, so m.aterial in aid of the defensive works on the land, sliould 
be augmented in this or any other form, is left to the wisdom of the legis- 
lature. For the purpose of manning these vessels in sudden attacks on our 
harbours, it is a matter for consideration whether the seamen of the United 
States may not justly be formed into a special militia, to be called on for tours 
of duty, in defence of the harbours where they shall happen to be, the ordina- 
ry militia of the place furnishing that portion which may consist of lands- 
men. 

The moment our peace was threatened I deemed it indispensible tosecurtfa 
greater provision of those articles of military- stores, with which our magazines 
were not sufficiently furnished. To have awaited a previous and special sanc- 
tion by law, would have lost occasions wliich might not be retrieved. I did 
not hesitate, therefore, to autliorise engagements for such supplements to oui* 
existing stock, as would render it adequate to the emergencies threatening 
US; and I trust that the legislature, feeling the same anxiety for the safety of our 
country so materially advanced by ttiis precaution, will approve, when done, 
what they woidd have seen so important to be done, if then assembled. — Ex- 
penses,also unprovided for,arose out of the necessity of calling all our gun-boats 
into actual service for the defence of our harbours.of all which accounts will 
be laid before you. 

Whether a regular army is to be raised, and to what extent, must depend 
on the information so shortly expected. In the mean time, I have called on 
the states for quotas of militia to be in readiness for present defence ; and 
have moreover, encouraged the acceptance of volunteers ; and I am happy 
to inform you,that these have oflTered themselves with great alacrity in every 
part of the union ; they are ordered to be organized, and ready at a mo- 
ment's warning, to proceed on any service to which they may be called,and 
every preparation within the executive powers, has been made to ensure us 
the benefit of early exertions. 

I informed Congress at their last session of the enterprizes against the 
publlck peace, which were believed to be in preparation by Aaron Burr and 
his associates, of the measures taken to defeat them, and to bring the oflTen- 
ders to justice : their enterprizes were happily defeated by the patriotic ex- 
ertions of the militia, wherever called into action, by the fidelity of the army 
and energy of the commander in chief, in promptly arranging the diffi- 
culties presenting themselves on the Sabine, repau-inj to meet those arising 



70 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

on the Mississippi, and dissipating-, before their explosion, plots engendering- 
there. I siuiU think it my duty to lay before you the proceedings and the 
evidence publicly exhibited on the arraignment of the principal oilenders be- 
fore the district court of Virginia. You will be enabled to judge whether the 
defect w:is in the testimony, in the law, or in the administration of the 
law : and wherever it shall be found,the legislature alone can apply or origin- 
ate the remedy. Tl\e framers of our constitution certainly supposed they 
had guarded, as well their government against destruction by treason, as 
their citi-ens against oppression under pretence of it ; and if these ends are 
not attained, It is if Importance to inquire by what means more eftectually 
they maybe secured. 

The accounts of the receipts of revenue during the year ending on the 
SOtli day of September lust, Ijeing not yet made up, a correct statement will 
be liereafter transmitted from the treasury,in the mean time it is ascertained 
that the receipts have amounted to nearly sixteen millions of doUai'S, which, 
witi> the 5 millions and an half in the treasury at the beginning of the year, 
have enabled us, after meeting the current demands, and interest incurred,to 
pay more than four millions of the principal of our funded debt.— —These 
payments, with those of the preceding five and an half years, have extinr 
guisiied of the funded debt twenty-five millions and a halfof dollars,beingthe 
whole which could be paid or purchased within the limits of the law, and of 
our coiuracts, and have left us in the treasui'y 8 millions and a half of dollars. 
A portion of this sum may be considered as a commencement of accumu- 
lation of the surplusses of revenue, which, after paying the instalments of 
debt, as they shall become payable, will remain without any specifick object. 
It may partly, indeed, be applied towards compleating the defence of the 
expf)sed points of our country on such a scale as shall be adapted to OU); 
principles and circumstances. 

This object is, doubtless, among the first entitled to attention, in such a 
state of our finances : and it is one which, whether we have peace or wa.r, 
will provide security wliere it is due. Whether what shall remain of this, 
with the future surplusses,may be usefully applied to purposes already autho- 
rised or more usefully to others requiring new authorities, or how otherwise 
they shall be disposed of,are questions calling for the notice of Congress : mi- 
less indeed thev shall be superseded by a oh^n^c in our publick relations,now 
awaiting the determination <>f otiieis. Wliatever be that determination, it is 
a great consolation that it will become known at a moment when the su- 
preme council of the nation is assembled at its post, and ready to give the 
aids of its wisdom and authority to whatever course the good of our country 
shall then call us to pursue. 

Matters of minor importance will be the subject of future communications ; 
and nothing shall be wanting on my part, which may give information or dis- 
patch to the proceedings of the legislature in the exercise of their high du- 
ties, and at a moment so interesting to the publick welfare. 

TH : JEFFERSON 
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1807. 



DOCUMEJ\rTS. 

Mote communicated by lord Hawick to Mr. Monroe, dated January 

10, 1807. 

THE undersigned, his majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign af- 
fairs, has received his majesty's commands to acquaint Mr.Monroe, that the 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 71 

French government, having' issued certain orders, which, in violation ofthe 
usages of war, purport to prohibit tlie commerce of all neutral nations with 
his majest}''s dominions, and also to prevent such nations from trading' with 
any other country in any articles,the growth,produce or manufacture of his 
■inajesty's dominions ; and the said government having also taken upon itself 
to declare all his majesty's dominions to be in a state of blockade, at a time 
tvhen the fleets ofFrance and her allies are themselves confined within their 
Own ports by the superiour valour and discipline ofthe British navy ; 

Such attempts on the part ofthe enemy, giving to his majesty an unques- 
tionable right of retaliation, and warranting his majesty in enforcing the 
same prohibition of all commerce with France, which that power vainly hopes 
to effect against the commerce of his majesty's subjects, a prohibition which 
the superiority of his majesty's naval forces might enable him to support, 
by actually investing the ports and coasts ofthe enemy with numerous squad- 
rons and cruisers, so as to make the entrance or approach thereto manifestly 
dangerous : 

His Majesty, though unwilling to follow the example of his enemies by 
proceeding to an extremity so distressing to all nations not engaged in the 
•wrai', and carrying on their accustomed trade ; yet feels himself bound by a 
due regardto the just defence ofthe rights and interests of liis people not to 
suffer such measures to be taken by the enemy, without taking some steps on 
his part, to restrain this violence, and to retort upon them tlie evils of tlieir 
•own injustice. Mr. Monroe is therefore requested to apprise the American 
consuls and merchants residing in England, that his majesty has therefore 
judged it expedient to order that no vessel shall be permitted to trade fi om 
one port to another, both which ports shall belong to,or be in possession of 
France or her alhes, or shall be so far under their control as that British 
vessels may not freely trade thereat : and that the commanders of hTs ma- 
jesty's ships of war and privateers have been instructed to warn every neu- 
tral vessel, coming from any such port, and destined to another such port, 
to discontinue her voyage, and not to proceed to any such port ; 
and every vessel, after being so warned, or any vessel coming from any such 
port, after a reasonable time shall have been afforded for receiving infonna- 
tion of this his majesty's order, which shall be found proceeding to another 
such port,shall be captured and brought In, and together with her cargo, 
shall be condemned as la'wful prize ; and that from this time all the 
measures authorised by the law of nations, and the respective treaties be- 
tween his majesty and the difterent neutral powers will be adopted and 
executed, with respect to vessels attempting to violate the said order 
after this notice. 

(Signed) HOWICK. 

Dovining street, yan. 
10, 1807. 



TRANSLATION. 

BY the greatest outrage against humanity and against policy, Spain was 
forced by Great Britian to take part in the present war. This power has ex- 
ercised over the sea and over the commerce of the world an exclusive do- 
minion. Her numerous factories, disseminated through all countries, are 
like sponges which imbibe the riches of those (countries ) witliout leaving 
them more than the appearances of mercantile liberty. From this maritime 



Vp AMERlCAI-f STATE PAPERS. 

and commercial despotism, England derives immense resoui'ces for cari7iug 
on a war, whose object it is to destroy tiie commerce wliich belongs to each 
state, from its industry and situation. Experience has proven that the mo- 
rality of the British cabinet has no hesitation as to the means, so long as they 
lead to tlie accomplishment of its designs -. and whilst this power can continue 
to enjoy the fruits of its immense traffick,humanity will groan under the 
weight of a desolating war. To put an end to this, and to attain a solid 
peace, the emperour of the French and king of Italy, issued a decree on the 
21st of November last,in which, adopting- the principle of reprisals,the block- 
ade of the Britishlsles is determined on ; and his ambassadour,his excellency 
Francis de Bcauharnois,grand dignitary of the order of the iron crov,Ti,ofthe 
legion of honour, &c. &c. having communicated this (decree) to the king our 
master ; and his majesty being desirous to co-operate by means sanctioned 
by tlie rig-hts of reciprocity, has been pleased to authorize his most serene 
highness the prince generalissimo of the marine, to issue a circular of the 
following tenour. 

" As soon as England committed the horrible outrage of intercepting the 
vessels of tlie royal marine, insidiously violating the good faith with which 
peace assures individual property, and the rights of nations, his majesty con- 
sidered himself in a state of war with that power, although his royal soul 
suspended the promulgation of the manifesto until lie saw the atrocity, com- 
mitted by its seamen, sanctioned by the government of London. From that 
time, and without the necessity of warning tlie inhabitants of these kingdoms, 
of tlie circumspection with wliich they ought to conduct themselves towards 
those of a country, which disregards the sacred laws of property, and the 
rights of nations ; his majesty made known to his subjects the state of war, 
in which lie found liimself with that nation. All trade, all commerce, is 
prohibited in such a situation, and no sentiments ought to be entertained 
towards such an enemy, which ai'e not dictated by honour,avoiding all inter- 
course which might be considered as the vile effects of avarice,operating on the 
subjects of a nation, which degrades itself in them. His majesty is well persua- 
ded that such sentiments of honour are rooted in the hearts of his beloved sub- 
jects, but he does not choose on that account to allow the smallest indul- 
gence to the violators ofthe law, nor permit that, through their ignorance, 
they should be taken by surprisp,niithor;=.ii.g me Dy these presents to declai-e 
that all English property wul be confiscated, whenever it is found on board 
a vessel, althougli a neutral, if the consignment belongs to Spanish individ- 
uals. So likewise will be confiscated all merchandize which may be met 
with, although it may be in neutral vessels, wlienever it is destined for the 
ports of England or her Isles. And, finally, his majesty conforming himself 
to the ideas of his ally the emperour ofthe French, declares in'his states the 
same law which from principles of reciprocity, and suitable respect, his im- 
perial majestv promulgated under date ofthe 21st November, 1806. 

The execution of this determination of his majesty, belongs to the chiefs 
of provinces, of departments, and of vessels (baxeles) and communicating it 
to them in the name of his majesty, I hope they will leave no room for the 
royal displeasure. 

God preserve you many years. 

Aranjuez, 19th Feb- 
ruary, 1807. 

THE PRINCE GENERALISSIMO 

OF THE MARINE." 



A^MBRIGAN STATE PAPEUS. 



A DECREE 



of the King of Holland^ liasucd Jlugmt 28t/i, 1807, relative le 
jVcutial Comnwrce. 

LOUIS NAPOLEON, by the Grace, of God, and the Constitution, King of 

Holland, 

Considering- that, consistently W!th ilie true interest of our Kingdom, it is 
our intention to co-oper.ile by every means in our power t(<wardstlie wisiied 
for result of the great me;.suies adopted by bis Majesty the Emperour 
and Knig, for the attainment of a general peace and tlie ir.dcpendence of tlie 
seas, — considering tliat s me subaltern Agents have been guilty of weali.- 
ness and neglect in the execution of the measures prescribed by our Decree 
of 15tb October 1806, — considering the dexterity and perfidy witii which 
tlie Papers of neutral Vessels are imitated in some of the Enemy's ports and 
even tlie Bills of Healtii, at the risk of the healtli of Europe, — considering, 
la :;th-, that ail tiiese irregularities ought to cease, at a moment so critical for 
the enemy of the whole'Continent, and particularly for tiie commercial Na- 
tions, and that the iioaou^- and the dearest interests of our subjects wuld be 
endangered by a deviation from the strictest execution of the laws, ;aid 
decrees existing on this important subject ; 

We have decreed and enact as follows : — 

1st. The agents, arrested according to the order of our ministers of jus- 
tice and police, shall be brought befoi-e the competent courts of justice and 
toied according to law. 

2d. Concerning the vessels detained in our ports, of which a list accompa- 
nies tiie present, sentence shall be pronounced by the competent courts of 
justice with tiie gi-ealest rigour. 

ocl. All the inward bound vessels, from the date of the promulgation of 
the present Decree, sliall be obliged to give a double security, which shall re- 
m:.in in force till the legality of the papers are tully acknowledged, and that 
it is proved tliat the same vessels have not touched at any enemy's port. 

4h. In case it should be pi<.vcd that tiie papers were false, or that, con- 
trary to the declaration of the captain, the vessel had touched at an eneni/s 
port, the double security shall be levied immediately on the bondsman, and 
the amount thereof paid into the pubiick. treasury. 

5tii. As soon as the security shall have been regulated, tlie vessel may be- 
gin disciiarging in presence of persons appointed thereto by tlie minister 
of finance, who will take care that the owner discharge no goods which, 
are suspected J;o be English wares. 

6th. In case it should be proved, that the goods were really of English 
manufacture, or came from an enemy's port, the same shall not only be con- 
fiscated for the benefit of the pubiick treasury, but the double security shall 
likewise be levied without delay, and the vessel be obliged to proceed 
to sea immediately ; and in case of bad weather,no permission shall be gran- 
ted lier to remain, but under the strictest precautions — namely a guard, and 
tlie most vigilant cognizance. ~ 

7th. All correspondences, journals, &c. which come througli neutral terri- 
toiy, shall be seized and burnt. 

8th. All passengers or travellers, not being able to prove that they are not 
eome from the British islands, sliall be immediately ordered out of the coun- 
tr)-. 

9th All prohibitory regulations concerning the trade with England, re- 
main in full force.in so far as they are not altered by the present decree. 

Vol. IV, Appendix. K 



74 AatcmCAK STA'lE PAPERS. 

10th. All those who violate the present regulations, shall be tried and 
punished as opposing the laws of the kingdom. 

11th. Our minister of finance is alone personally answerable for the strict 
executions ; our ministers of war and marine shall hold at his disposal the 
detachments of Hussars, Gend'armes, of Infantry,together with boats and 
armed vessels, which he may demand of them. 

12th. Our ministers of mai-ine, of finance, and of war, are charged each in 
as far as it concerns him, with the execution of the present Decree. 

Given on the 28th of August, 1807, being the second year of our reign. 
Signed, LOUIS. 

On the part of the King, 

W. F. ROELL, Sec'ry of State, 



REPORT 

Of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, communi- 
cated to Congress, Mvember 6. 1807. 

In obedience to the directions of the act supplementary to the act intitu- 
led " An act to establish the Treasury Department," the secretary of the 
treasury respectfully submits the following report and estimates. 

REVENUE and RECEIPTS. 

The nett revenue arising from duties on merchandise and tonnage whicU 
accrued during the year 1805, amounted to 14,135,138 

And that which accrued during the year 1806, amounted as will 

appear by the statement (A) to 16,576,454 

The same I'evenue, after deducting that portion which arose 
from the duty on salt, and from the additional duties con- 
stituting the Mediterranean fund, amounted during the year 
1805, to 12,520,532 

And during the year 1806, to 14,809,758 

It is ascertained, that the n^tt rcvmiuc: which has accrued during the 
three first quai-ters of tlie year 1807, exceeds that of the corresponding 
quarters of the year 1806 ; and that branch of the revenue may, exclusively 
of the duty on salt, and af the Mediterranean fund, both of which expire on 
tlie 1st day of January next, be safely estimated for the present, if no 
charge takes place in the relation of the UnitedStates with foreign nations, 
at fourteen millions of dollars. 

The statement (B.) exhibits in detail, the several species of merchandise 
and other sources from which the revenue was collected during the year 
1806. 

It appears by the statement (C) that the sales of the publick lands have 
during the year ending on the 30th September, 1807, exceeded 284,000 
acres. — Some returns are not yet received : and the proceeds of sales in the 
Mississippi Territory being,after deducting the surveying and other inciden- 
tal expenses, appropriated in the first place to the payment of a sum of 
1,250,000 dollars to the state of Georgia, have not been included, but are 
distinctly stated. The actual payments by purchasers have, during the 
same period, exceeded 680,000 dollars ; and the receipts into the treasury 
from that source may, after deducting charges and the 5 pr. ct, reserved for 
roads, be estimated for the ensuing year, at 500,000 dolls. 

The receipts arising from the permanent revenue of the United States 
!Hay, therefore, without including the duties on postage & other incidehta! 

/ 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 75 

branches, be computed for the year 1808 at 14,500,000 

And the payments into the treasury during the same year.on 
account of the' salt and Mediterranean duties previously accrued, 
•re estimated at one million three hundred thousand dollars 1, 300,000 

Making in the whole an aggregate of fifteen millions eight hun- 
dred thousand dollars 15,800,000 
Last garter of the Tear 1807. 

The balance in the treasury which, on the 30th of Sept. 1806 
amounted to 5,496,969 dollars 77 cents, did on the 30th yf Sept, 
1807, amount to 8,530,000 

Tiie receipts into the treasury from the 1st of October to the 
31st day of December 1807, are estimated at 4,000,000 

12,530,000 

The expenses during the same pei'iod for all objects whatever, 
the publick debt excepted, and including 686,076 dollars for 
the extraordinary expenditures of the Navy Department, of 
which the estimate has been transmitted, are estimated at 1,700,000 

The ordinarj- payments on account of the publick debt, inclu- 
ding the provision for the interest on the Louisiana and Dutch 
debt to the 1st of July 1808, are estimated at 1,700,000 

A further sum of about 1,500,000 dollars should also be paid 
during this quarter,in order to complete the annual appropriation 
of eight millions of dollars. If the whole of this sum which is 
applicable to the purchase of the eight per cent, stock, cannot be 
expended this year, the unexpended balance will form an addi- 
tional expendituj-e for the year 1808, charg^g however the 
whole to this quarter, 1,500,000 

Making an an aggregate of 4,900,000 dollars and will leave in 
the Treasury at the close of the yeiu* a balance of about seven 
millions six hundred thousand dollars, 7,630,000 



12,530,000 



Expenditures of the Tear 1808. 

The permanent expences calculated on a peace establishment 
are estimated at 11,600,000 dollars, and consist of the following 
items, viz. 

1. For the civil department, and all domestick expenses of a 
civil nature including invalid pensions, the light house, and mint 
establishments, the expenses of surveying publick lands and the 
sea coast, the fifth instalment of the loan due to Maryland, and a 
sum of 100,000 dollars to meet such miscellaneous appropria- 
tions, not included in the estimates, as may be made by Con- 
gress, 1,1 00,000 

2. For expenses incident to the intercourse with foreign na- 
tions including the permanent appropriation for Algiers, 200,000 

3.»For the military and Indian department, including trading 
houses and the permanent appropriaton for certain Indian tribes, 1.280,000 

4. For the naval estabhshment, 1,020,000 

5. The annual appi-opriation of eight millions of dis. for the 
pajTTient of the principal and interest of the publick debt ; of 
which sum not more than 3,400,000 dols. will for the year 1808 

be applicable to the payment of interest. 8,000,000 

11,600,000 



7S AMERICAN STATK PAPERS. 

To the permanent expenses must be added for tlie j'ear 1808 a 
sum of ubont 800,000 dollars, necessary in addition to the annual 
appropi-iation of eig-iit millions of dollars, to complete on the 1st 
Jaiuiary, 1809, the reimbursement of the 8 per cent, stork, 800,000 

And for paying- the balance of American claims, assumed by 
the French convention, 200,000 



Making altogether 12,600,000 for the expenses of that year, 12,600,000. 
The receipts of tlie year having been estimated at 15,800,000 
And the probable balance in the Treasury on the 
1st of January next at 7,630,000 



Making all together 23,4o'J,000 

Would tlierefore probably leave in the Treasury on the 1st of 
January, 1809, a balance of near eleven millions of dollars, 10,830.000 

23,430,u00 

PUBLICK DEBT. 

It appears by the slatement (D ) that the payments on account of the prin- 
cipal of the publick debt, have, during the year ending tlie 30th day of Sep- 
tember, 1807, exceeded 4,600,000 dollurs ; making the total of pubhrk debt 
reimbursed from the 1st of April, 1801, to the Is't of October, 1807, about 
25,880,000 dollars, exclusively of more than six millions, which have been 
paid during the same period, in conformity with the provisions of the ti-eaty 
and convention with Great Britain, and of tlie Louisiana convention 

Of the twelve millions of dollars, which according to the preceding esti- 
mates, m:iy be paid on acco-ant of the publick debt, between the 30th Sep- 
tember 1807, and tlie 1st January 1809, about eiglit millions will be on ac- 
count of tiie principal. It must, however, be observed, that the unascertain- 
ed residt of tlie proportion made to the publick creditors for the modifica- 
tion of the debt, may sdTcct the amount payable during the year 1808, on 
account of both principal and interest. 

On the 1st d:.y of January, iSOOj ihe principal of the debt, will, if the pro- 
posed modifiration be not assented to by tlie publick creditoi-s, amount to 
near fifty-seven millions five hundred thousand d^illars. The subsequent 
annual payments thereon, on account of principal and intei-est, will not, exclu- 
sively of occasional purchases, exceed 4,600,000 dollars ; and the whole of 
the debt, the nineteen millions of tliree per cent stock only excepted, will 
be reimbm'sed in 16 years. 

A general subscription would reduce the ca])ital to about fifty-one millions 
of dollars. The pavTnents would am;nint to eight millions of dollars annual- 
ly, during- six years, and average less than tlirce millions during the seven 
following, at the end of \y^hich period the whole debt would be extinguish- 
ed. ' 

An annual unappropriated surplus of at least- three millions of dollars, 
may henceforth be relied upon with g-reat confidence. The receipts of the 
year 1808 have been estimated at 15,800,000 and the cxpences at 12,1041,000 
dollars. The permanent revenue has been computed at 14,500,000 dollars, 
and the permanent expences,predicated on an annual payment of eight mil- 
lions of dollars an account of the debt, have been stated at 16,600,000 dol- 
lars ; and as this would, if no modification of the debt should take place, be 
reduced to less than 8,500,000, the annual surplus would tlien amount to six 
ifniilions of dollars. Nor are the seven millions and an half of dollars, whicH 



AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 77 

remain in the treasury at the end of the present year, inckidcd in tlie calcu- 
lation. 

What portion of that surphis may be w:inted for necesHary measures of se- 
ciu'ity and defence ; what portion should be apphed to internal improve- 
ments, which, whilst increasing and diliiising tlie national wealth, will 
strengtiien the bonds of union, arc subjects wliici) do not fall within the 
province of tiie Treasury Department — but it is not imi)ossil)le, that after 
making ample jM-ovisions for botii those objects considerable surplusses, 
which can no longer be applied to tlie redemption of the debt, may sldl ac- 
cumulate in the treasury. 

The previous accumulation of treasury in time of peace might, in a great 
degree, defray the extraordinary expences of war, and diminish tlie neces- 
sity of either loans or additional taxes. It wt.uld provide, during ])eriods 
of prosperity, lltir those of adverse events, to which every nation is exposed, 
inst.-;.d of incre;ising the burdens of the people at a time when they are least 
able to bear them, or of impairing by anticipations the resources of ensuing 
generations : — and the publick monies of tiie United States,not being locked 
up and withdrawn from the general circulation ; but on the contrary depos- 
ited in banks, and continuing to form a part of the circulating medium, the 
most formidable objection to tliat s;, stem, which has neverlheless been at 
times adopted with considerable success in other countries, is thereby alto- 
gether i-emoved. It is also believed that the renewal of the charter of the 
Bank of the United States may, among' othev advantages, afford to govern- 
ment an opportunity of obtaining interest on publick deposits,whenever they 
shall exceed a certain amount. 

Should the United States, contrary to their expectation and desire, be in- 
volved in war, it is believed that the receipts of the year 1808 will not be 
materially allected by the event, inasmuch as they will principally arise from 
the revenue accrued during the present year. The amount of outstanding 
bonds due by importers, after deducting the debentures issued on account of 
re-exportations, exceeds, at this time, sixteen miUions of dollars The de- 
ductions to be made from these on account of subsequent re-exportations, 
would, in case of w.ir, be less than usual ; for exportations will then be 
checked, as well as importations, and in proportion as these will decrease, 
a greater home demand will be created for the stock on hand, and the neces- 
sity of re-exporting be diminished. 

It has already been stated,that the specie in the treasury at the end of this 
year, together with the suq^lus of the j'ear 1808, will amount to near eleven 
miUions of dollars — a sum pi-obably adequate to meet the extraordinary ex- 
jjences of the war for that year. It will also be recollected, that in the esti- 
mated expences of the year 1808, the reimbursement of near five millions 
and a half of the principal of the debt is included. The only provision there- 
fore which may render any contingency necessary for the extraordinary ser- 
vi'.e of thatyear,in order to cover any deficiency of revenue or increase of ex- 
penditure beyond what has been estimated, will be an authority to borrow a 
sum equal to that reimbursement. 

That the revenue of the United States will, in subsequent years, be 
considerably impaired by a war, neither can or ought to be concealed. — 
It is on the contrary necessary,in order to be prepared for the crisis, to take 
an early view of the subject, and to examine the resources which should be 
selected for supplying the deficiency, and defraying the extraordinary expen- 
ces. 

There are no data from which the extent of the defalcation can at this 
moment be calctdated, or even estimated. It will be suflficient to state, 1st, 
That it appears necessary to provide a revenue at least equal to the annual 
expences on a peace establishment, the interest of the existing debt, and the 



7S AMERICAN STATE PAPERS. 

interest cm the loans wliich may be raised. 2. That those expeiices, togetli. 
er with tJie interest of the debt, will, after the year 1808, amount to a sum 
less than seven millions of dollars, and therefore that if the present revenue 
of 14,500,000 dollars shall not be diminished more than one half by tlie war, 
it will still be adequate to the object, leaving only the interest of war loans 
to be provided for. 

Wliether taxes should be raised to a greater amount, or loans be altogeth- 
er relied on for defraying the expenses of the war, is the next subject of con- 
sideration. 

Taxes are paid by the great mass of the citizens, and immediately affect 
almost every individual of the community. Loans are supplied by capitals 
previously accumulated by a few individuals. In a country where the re- 
sources of individuals are not generally and materially affected by vrar, it is 
practicable and wise to raise by taxes the greater part at least of the annujd 
supplies. The credit of the nation may also, from various circumstances , 
be at times so for impaired as to leave no resource but taxation. In both 
respects the situation of the United States is totally dissimilar. 

A maritime war will, in the United States, generally and deeply affect, 
whilst it continues,the resources of individuals, as not only commercial profits 
will be curtailed,but principally because a great portion of the surplus of ag- 
ricultural pi'oduce necessarily requires a foreign market. The reduce^ 
price of the principal articles exported from the United States will op- 
erate more heavily than any contemplated tax. And without inquir- 
ing whether a similar cause may not still more deeply and permanently 
afiect a nation at w.ar with the United States, it seems to follow, that so far 
as relates to America, the losses and privations caused by the war should 
not be aggravated by taxes beyond what is strictly necessary. An addition 
to the debt is doubtless an evil ; but experience having now shewn with 
what rapid progress the revenue of the union increases in time of peace, 
with what facility the debt formerly contracted has, in a few years, been re- 
duced,a hope may confidently be entertained that all the evils of the war will 
be temporary and easily repaired, and that the return of peace will, without 
any effort, afford ample resources for reimbursing whatever hiay have been 
borrowed during the war. 

The credit of the United Stales is also unimpaired either at home or a- 
broad, and it is believed that loans to a reasonable amount may be obtained 
on eligible terms. Measures have been taken to ascertain to what extent 
this niay be effected abroad ; and it will be sufficient here to sug-gest, that 
the several banks of the United States may find it convenient after the en- 
suing year, and as the diminished commerce of the country may require less 
capital, to loan to government a considerable portion of their capital stock, 
now computed at about forty millions of dollars. 

It might fee premature to enter into a particular detail of the several bran- 
ches of revenue w'aich may be selected, in order to pro^de for the interest 
of war loans, and to cover deficiencies in case the existing revenue should 
fall below seven millions of dollars. A general enumeration seems at pres- 
ent sufficient. 

1. Not only tlie duty on salt and the Mediterranean duties may be imme- 
diately revived ; but the duties on importation generally may, in case of 
war, be considerably increased, perhaps doubled, with less inconvenience 
tlian would arise from any other mode of taxation. Without resorting to 
the example of other nations, experience has proven that this source of rev- 
enue is in the United States the most productive, the easiest to collect, and 
the least burthensome to the great mass of the people. In time of war the 
danger of smuggling is diminished, the scarcity of foreign articles prevents 
the duty ever filling on the importer ; the consumers are precisely those 
members of the community who are best able to pay the duty ; and the in- 



AMERICAN STATE PAPEllS. fS 

crease of Domestick Manufactures which may be indirectly affectt-d, is in it- 
self a desirable object 

2. Indirect taxes, however ineligible, will doubtless be cheerfully paid i.^ 
war taxes, if necessary. Sevend modifications of the system formerly adop . 
ted, might, however, be introduced, both in order to diminish some of the 
inconveniences which were experienced, and particularly to ensure the col- 
lection of the duties. 

3. Direct taxes are liable to a particular objection arising from the una- 
voidable inequality produced by the general rule of the constitution. What- 
ever difference may exist between the relative wealth, and consequent abili- 
ty of paying, of the several states, still the tax must necessarily be raised in 
proportion to their relative population. Should it, however, become neces- 
sary to resort to that resoui'ce, it is believed that the tax raised upon tliat 
species of property in each state which, by the state laws, is liable to taxa- 
tion,as had originally been contemplated by congress, would be preferable to 
a general assessment laid uniformly on the same species of property in all 
the states, as was ultimately adopted. 

All which respectfully submitted. 

ALBERT GALLATIN, Secretary of the Treasury. 
Treasury Department , Nov. 5, 1807. 



BRITISH PROCLAMATION. 

BY THE JilNG. 

A Proclamation for recalling and prohibiting Seamen from, serving Foreigtt 
Princes and States. 
GEORGE R. — Whereas it hath been represented unto us, that great 
numbers of marines and seafaring men, our natural-born subjects, have been 
enticed to enter into tlie service of foreign states,and are now actually serving 
as well on board the ships of war belonging to the said foreign states, as on 
board the merchant vessels belonging to their subjects, notwithstanding our 
former Proclamation recalling them, contrary to the duty and allegiance 
which our said subjects owe xinto ue^ -uid to the gi-eat disservice of their 
native country ; we have therefore thought it necessary at tlie present mo- 
ment, when our kingdom is menaced and endangered, and when the mari- 
time rights, on which its power and greatness do mainly depend, are dis- 
puted and called in question, to publish, by and witli the advice of our Piivy 
Council, this our Royal Proclamation : — 

We do hereby strictly charge and command all masters of ships, pilots,mar- 
iners, shipwrights, and other seafaring men being our natural-born subjects, 
who may have been enticed into the pay or service of any foreign state, or do 
serve in ajiy foreign ship or vessel, that, forthwith, they and every of them do 
(according to their bounden duty and allegiance, and in consideration that. 
their native country hath need of all their services) withdrav/ themselves, and 
depart from, and quit such foreign services, and do return home to their na- 
tive country ; or do enter on board such of our ships of war as tliey may 
chance to fall in -with, either on the high seas, or in any rivers, waters, ha- 
vens, roads, ports, or places whatsoever or wdieresoever. 

And, for the better execution of the purposes of this our Royal Proclama- 
tion,we do authorise and command all captains,masters,and others command- 
ing our ships and vessels of war, to stop and make stay of all and every suck 
person or persons (being our natui-al-born subjects) as shall endeavour W 
transport or enter themselves into the service of any foreign state, contrary to 
*he intent and commandof this our royal proclamation,and to seize uponytake. 



80 AMERICAN STATE PAPERS, 

and bring away all sucli persons as aforesaid, wlio shall be found to be eitt-' 
ployed i" SvTMng in an\ foreign merchant ship or vessel as aforesaid : — but 
Wf- do strictly enjoin yll such our capt;uns, masters, and others, that they do 
permit no man to go on board such ships i.nd vessels belonging to the states 
at amity w.t j us for the jjurpose of so seizing upon, taking, and brmging a- 
way siuh persons as aforesaiit, forwliuse discreet and orderly demeanour the 
said captains cannot answer ; and that tlsey do take especial care that no un- 
necess-a-y violence be done or ottered to the vessel, or to the remainder of 
tl;e ( :-ew, from out of w lich such persons shall be taken. 

And in case of their receiving information of any such person or persons 
being emijloved, or serving on board of any ship of war belonging to such 
foreign state, being in a state of amity with us, we do authorise and ccm- 
tnand our captains, masters, and others, comnmnding our ships of war, to re- 
quire of the captain or commander of such foreign ship of w.u', that he do 
fcrthwith release and discharge such person or persons being our natural- 
born subject or sub,ecis ; and if such release and discharge shall be jefus- 
ed, then to transmit information of sucli reiusal to the commander-in-chief 
of the squadron under wimse order such captain or ctmimander shall be 
then servhig ; wliich information the said ( ommander-in-chief is hereby 
strictly directed and enjoined to transmit, witii the least possible delay, to 
our Minister residing- at the seat of Government of that state to which the 
said foreign siiip of war shall belong-, or to our Lord High Admn-al, or 
Lords Commissioners of the Atimiralty for the time being, in order that 
we, being- apprised of such proceeding, may fortliwith direct tiie necessary 
steps to be taken for obtaining redress from the Government to which such 
foreign sliips of war shall belong, for the injury done to us by the unwarrant- 
ed detention of our natural-born subjects in the service of a foreign state. 

And wliereas it has further been represented unto us that divers msirinera 
and seafiii-ing men, our natural-born subjects, have been induced to accept 
letters of naturalization, or certificates of citizenship, from foreign states, 
and have been taught to believe that, by such letters or certificates, they arc 
discharged from tiiat duty of allegiance which as our natural-born subjects, 
they owe to us ; now we do hereby warn all siicli mariners, seafaring men, 
and otliers our natural-boi-n subjects, that no such letters of naturalizJ^tion, 
or certificates of citizenship, do or can, in any maniv'i-,/i;>««t oui- naturai-boru 
stibjects of the allegiance, or in aiv''^s'<^<^ alter'flie duty wiiichthey owe to us, 
their lawful Sovereign. I3ut, in consideration of the error into which such 
mariners and seafaring men as aforesaid may have been led. We do hereby pub- 
lish and declare our fref pardon to all such our subjects, wiio, repenting of 
the delusion under which they have acted, shall immediately upon knowl- 
edge of tills our roy::l proclamation, wltiidraw themselves from foreign ser- 
vice,and return to their allegiance to us ; and we do declare that all such our 
subjects, who shall continue in the service of foreign states in disregard and 
contempt of tills our royal procl.imation, will not onlv incur oui' just displeas- 
ure, but are liable to be proceeded against for such contempt, and shall be 
proceeded against accordingly ; and we do herebv declare, that if any such 
miisters of ships, pilots, mariners, seamen, shipwrights, or. other seafaring 
men (being our natural-born subjects) shall be taken in any foreign service 
by the Algerines, or otiier Barbary Powers, and carried into slavery, they 
shall not be reclaimed by us as subjects of Great-Britain. — And we do furth- 
er notify, that all such our subjects as aforesaid, who have xoluntarily enter- 
ed, or shall enter, or voluntarily continue to serve on board of any ships of 
war belonging to any foreig-n state at enmity with ua, are and will be guil- 
ty of hig-ii treason : — and we do by this our royal proclamati )n declare, that 
they siiall be punished witli the utmost severity of the law. 

Given at oiu- Court, at the Qiieen's Palace, the leth day of October, 1807, 
.-nd in the 47th year of our reign. — God save the King. 



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